Credit goes to Steve for pointing out this one to me:
We Are Scientists. The music is good, but not only that, their website happens to be the funniest thing since sliced bread. The music videos are darn funny too, especially 'Nobody Move, Nobody Get Hurt'.
Arctic Monkeys are not funny at all, but the music is great. You can listen to more of their stuff here.
Finally!
I've just finished downloading the last few episodes of Gankutsuou!
Now all I need is time to watch them.
*hopes for a happy ending*
So, I've just watched Tsubasa Chronicle episode 12 (I'm getting through them fast! I've nearly downloaded all 20 available so far) and I think this has been one of the best episodes I've seen.
I thought it would be really boring in a not much happening sort of a way, but that might be the key. It sounds crazy, but I think that the pacing was faster and more enjoyable because there was no action. In previous episodes, because they didn't want to animate much action, probably on account of it being too expensive or something, they resorted to close ups of peoples faces and exciting music and lots of people standing around. The timing just normally seems too slow.
Whereas, take out the action, and you take out the long pauses, and it makes for a better programme. Or something like that, maybe this episode was just animated better and it had nothing to do with the content.
Anyway, the reason I wanted to post, and it's just a little thing, but the episode reminded me. I want to know, how on Earth are Fujitaka and Clow standing next to each other, at the same time, and even holding a conversation? This is one of the biggest mysteries of the manga to me, and it makes me all kinds of confused when I try to work it out.
Seriously, it shouldn't be possible, for the sake of my sanity. I wonder if it confuses them too?
Unless of course *inspiration* one of them comes from a different world! It would probably be Clow, the cheeky devil.
And I'm not even going into how Clow could be the father of Fujitaka's children, because that confuses me even more. Maybe Fujitaka really is the father and Clow adopted the children for some unknown reason, or maybe Clow stole some of Fujitaka's gametes and did some strange kind of in vitro fertilisation thingy. And OMG what if Fei Wan Reed is the mother? *stupid*
And even in the anime, young Sakura is really cute. I can't help but find her utterly adorable. Awwwww.
Hello ^_^ *waves*
*bounds in* Hello!
*double take* Er, hi Moo. Hi *waves again*
Do you know what time it is?
Ummmm....
No? Can you guess? :)
Is it bath time? :D
No. Although bath time is lots of fun isn't it?
:D It's time to sing that song. Can you remember it?
I love that song!
Super! ^_^ It's time to sing the 'Janine hasn't done much work and feels quite bad about it, but still doesn't work any harder, when she realy should because she only has two weeks left and she's spending four of those days in Oslo' song.
:D Are you ready?
*nods nods*
Is everybody else ready? Should we all sing it together?
OK ^_^ I'll count to three and then we can sing. Ready? Good.
1...
2...
3...
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrggggggghhhhhhh!!!!!
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrggggggghhhhhhh!!!!!
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrggggggghhhhhhh!!!!!
Smashing :) What a lovely song. That was lots of fun wasn't it?
I don't know about you, but I'm quite tired now. I think it's time for us to go.
Awww. *looks at feet*
Goodbye *waves* ^_^
Say goodbye Moo.
Goodbye Moo.
Hahaha ^_^
Goodbye *wave wave*
*lower curtain and applause*
I am meant to be writing my 40 page report on the work I did in new york. Sadly, I currently seem to have the attention span of a tadpole, if said tadpole were trying to write a 40 page report about a genetically modified protein and it's future uses, which is particularly hard if the tadpole has broadband internet access and no hands with which to type.
I watched the first episode of the new series of Nighty Night yesterday. It makes me feel awful when I watch it, but it is funny. It's almost a morbid curiosity kind of thing. I wonder if everyone will die at the end of this series.
I've been watching more of Tsubasa Chronicle (I'm up to episode 6 now I think). This neither makes makes me feel awful nor makes me laugh. In fact, it does little. I think the problem is that it is so slow. Scenes which should be exciting seem to have huge pauses in the middle of them. But I shall continue to watch, it's almost a morbid curiosity kind of thing.
Also, I am ill. Not bad, just a cold. But it's annoying enough to be annoying.
Now to work! Proteins ho!
(You know, biochemistry would be so much more interesting if more people said "Proteins ho!", and maybe I could have a special sword too.)
Whew, it's been a little busy since I've been back in the U of K. Also, I couldn't access my hotmail account for a good few days, which was a rather frustrating business. Anyway, I'm back now (and procrastinating from writing my report), and I have lots of stuff to talk about.
Firstly, I've been watching the new series of the Mighty Boosh, which my Mum was so kind to record for me while I was away. It's good, but I'll wait to watch more than two episodes before I pass judgement. Mostly though, I think the moon is great <3
While waiting for my flight, I decided to buy a copy of Angels and Demons by Dan Brown. Seeing as I liked the Da Vinci code, I was hoping for some more of the same. Although, I have to say, I wasn't expecting it to be quite so similar! I am perhaps almost half-way through now, and the thing reads like an exact copy of the Da Vinci code, but just with a different love interest. Sadly though, it doesn't seem to be quite as interesting as the Da Vinci code, but some bits are interesting nonetheless.
As soon as I was in sight of a DVD player, I watched for myself my Tokyo Babylon OVA (I may have mentioned buying it, I forget). It was good, and I didn't have to worry after all, because it contained two stories, rather than just one. The second story, about the murders on the subway, was undoubtedly better than the first, and quite nerve-wracking in some places. I was worried that Hokuto was going to be annoying throughout the whole thing (that laugh!), but luckily she calmed down.
Seishiro was very good in this, in a 'kick-ass' sort of a way, which makes me warm to him a little more. Although this is all dispelled if I try to listen to the English dub; he sounds like an accountant!
The ending, especially of the second story, makes me sad in a pre-emptive kind of a way. I can't help it.
I also started watching some more anime. Now that I am not on a school network, I am quite happy to download all and sundry without fear of my internet connection being cut off. And so I am currently downloading the end of Gankutsuou (because I've been waiting for months to find out what happens).
I also decided to download: Tsubasa Chronicle! Yes, even though I heard it was awful, I wanted to try it out for myself. And, having watched 3 episodes so far, I can say that it is not so bad.
I was expecting the worst, so it doesn't strike me as horrendous. Admittedly some liberties have been taken with the storyline, and sometimes the characters are really ugly (Yuuko! My poor Yuuko!), and yes, there do seem to be a lot of scenes with exciting music, and nothing happening at all, but it's ok. Everyone knows that the book manga is always better than the film anime, so I don't mind it. Things I do like are, the music (yes I do!), the whole choral, tribal kind of sound is quite interesting, although it doesn't really suit Celes country that much, and I don't think too much of the comedy relief music. Touya and Yukito both looked good when they showed up, especially Touya. I don't mind the voices except Yuuko's Kurogane sounds like Kurogane should sound, as does Fay, which is a nice surprise, because I was really quite sure that he, if anyone, should be voiced by a woman. Fay's voice is soft, insincere and wishy-washy, so it suits him quite well, now if only he would open his eyes, I mean, I know he smiles a lot, but how on Earth does he see anything?! Mokona's voice is suitably annoying, and Mokona also makes a number of suitably annoying noises as well, but flying? Hmmmmm....
So yes, I shall continue to watch this, because it's not too bad, and I feel I should, as a fan of the manga.
Another thing that I have managed to get my grubby paws (lapa?) on since my return has been my X manga. I've been dying to pick this up again since I finished reading Tokyo Babylon, and so I read volume 8 in the space of, a very short space of time. I will now proceed to talk about it (click on read more for some mighty Volume 8, X spoilers, and spoilers for the whole of the Tokyo Babylon manga)
I've been back for a few days now, and this is the first time that I turned on my computer since then.
I've hardly unpacked anything else though.
I need to go sleep and stuff, I'll check my emails and all that malarky tomorrow.
(note to self: change time on blog to GMT)
It's funny when you can fit your whole life into two suitcases.
Only 6 and a half hours until I fly. Eeep.
Deedledeedoo deedledeedeedoo ddeedledeedoo deedledeedeedoodoo....
No, before you start in horror, this is not a crass joke about the death of Richard Whitely. In fact, I choose the tune because it seems quite fitting, seeing as I only have *counts* roughly 24hrs left in the US before I fly back to the UK.
I am not quite sure what to make of this situation. I am currently fluctuating between excitement, depression and denial.
In less transitional news:
I updated Clematis
As I said on the page, updates are going to be slow-er from now on. All I can see ahead of me for the next few months is school work, so I don't think I'll have much time. But I'll see if I can try to squeeze some drawing in somewhere.
It turns out that the past weekend was a rather drawing-y one for me. Because I also drew a fanart for Clipped Wings (click for big)
Clipped Wings is kind of special for me, because I've been reading it for ages (read: over two years). It's, I think, the first good webcomic that I came across (I was delighted to find it, as I had some time to kill before an exam later that day, so I spent the whole morning reading it while playing 'Mad World' from Donnie Darko on loop, in fact I still find it hard to listen to the song without thinking of the webcomic and vice versa).
This picture is of Jonas, the main character, who is a rather unlucky soul. I wanted to try and keep the feel of the comic in the picture, hence the bird and the art deco (I wasn't sure whether to go for art deco or art nouveau, but I went for art deco because it feels more hotel-y to me (and you find loads of it around New York). I cannot realy explain the picture any further, except to say that I chose to draw a cockatoo because they always seem really aggressive to me and I wanted to add an unsettling feeling to the whole thing.
Now! To return to packing!
Deedledeedoo deedledeedeedoo...
No more work for me! (paid work that is)
I have now reverted back to the position of dirty slacker student. Sadly that means that I have no excuse not to do my coursework *shakes fist*
Moving swiftly on, a quiz:
You are Mokona Modoki.
Hyperactivity is your main trait; you constantly
annoy people, and they in turn annoy you.
But, in your circle of friends, you're admired for
your courage and loyalty.
You're quite friendly, always trying to make a
friend out of your enemy.
Which TSUBASA RESERVoir CHRoNiCLE character are you?
brought to you by Quizilla
I'm quite happy to get Mokona. You see, Mokona amuses me no end, but also annoys me at the same time. Really though, Mokona is great, with being not only cheerful all the time, even in dire situations, but also for being the most lewd character in the whole manga. No really, both of Mokona=Modoki are filthy; I blame the parents.
So yesterday I met up with Mariya and we did some fun stuff. Firstly, I decided to throw some of my money away in Virgin Records. I bought Silent Alarm by Bloc Party; I really didn't mean to, but it was only $10! There's no way the CD would be that cheap in the UK. I also bought (I think) part of the Tokyo Babylon OVA (it seems there are two stories, and I only got one). I have heard that it's not very good, but I don't care because it's got Subaru in it I want to watch it.
And then we went for lunch at a sushi place (my second time eating sushi!), it must be a really popular place because there was still a queue to get in when there was only 10 minutes before the place shut for lunch. This was in the Village, which is a very nice place. We then followed a man in drag (as you do) for a while, and ended up in a festival. It was cool, there was a good band playing salsa and stuff and also a rubbish band, made up of drag queens, none of whom could sing.
Finally we went to a hookah (I said hookah!) bar. I can honestly say that I've never been to anything like that before. It was cool though, we drank mint tea from an ornate teapot and smoked Rose flavour tobacco. I was a bit worried, seeing as how I've never smoked before, that I might look like a loser and start coughing all over the place, but I didn't so it was all good. Hookahs (I don't know what the plural of hookah would be) are cool, and it's the closest to being Yuuko that I think I'll get, without doing all that opium business. So we took photos!
Tsk! Don't put your shoes on the furniture!
And today I went into Manhattan to do some fruitless clothes shopping. It's strange to think that it may have been my last trip into Manhattan before I go home. It's so soon now! I even dreamt about flying home last night, although for some silly reason due to local laws, we could only fly as far as New Jersey, the horror!
Edit: Added a link to Mariya's website on the links page. My FTP was playing up yesterday, so I couldn't add it before.
Tomorrow is my last day at work.
Tomorrow is my last day of work for a good few months, until I have to go out and actually do a proper real life job, like a career.
._.
On a completely unrelated note:
I really want to read a story that contains the line: "He looked at her with his meaty eyes..."
because it would make me laugh.
August, 20th:
Up betimes and to my bank, there to settle things about my return to England later this month. I was told that my account will be closed on the day I request it, and so I shall leave it for a few days, rather than carry my money around, which I fear, would put me quite in danger of losing it all. Then back home for a little something to eat before I, took a bus, to Manhattan. Alighted at 34th Street and to a mall that I never even realised existed before this day! Here, and then to Macy's, to buy a few things for my colleagues, with a mind to give as gifts upon my leaving work at the College this coming Friday. With time before the shops closed, I to Zara, where I was so taken by a jacket in the window, that I had to have it for myself, which I did presently buy. I am very pleased with this new season's fashions, they seem, in my mind at least, to be based on the style of the 16th, and maybe 17th, centuries. My new jacket is very much in this style, I like to think it is something that Samuel Pepys himself might have worn, but I think that this is just a fancy of mine, and yet it pleases me greatly to think of it. I then walked up 5th Avenue, despite it being quite humid, and to H&M. I had a hope of purchasing some more things in this new fashion, namely some pantaloons, and while they did have quite a few clothes in this style there were no pantaloons; I must have been mistaken to see them in the window. Yet, I was greatly happy to see that many of the skirts did fit me, and so did please myself with buying two, one of which I have a mind to wear to my friend Claire's wedding, and I will do so. Finally to another shop to buy more parting gifts for my colleagues before taking a bus home. I had a quick supper of some cold things and read a little of Magic Knight Rayearth, then to shower and to bed.
August, 21st (Lord's Day):
Lay long in bed this morning, though I had not planned on it! I worry a little that I am becoming more slothful, but I have had very little sleep of late, so perhaps it is warranted. I up at 12 noon and busied myself with the trying on of my new clothes. I see that I will have to buy some new boots, so as to go with one of the skirts, which does look funny without some, but this will have to wait until I return home. I am, as ever, pleased with my new jacket, and though I was a little unsure yesterday, I am now resolved to keep it. After lunch I recieved a phone call from my mother and father, and also my cousin Justin, and Charlotte, who were visiting with them, and we spoke a little. Then to the supermarket, where I bought some food for the coming week, and again home. Here I to read more of Magic Knight Rayearth and ate some supper. But lo! To see how little I have achieved all day! I am guilty to think of it. While I had not planned to go into work today, nor write any of my report, yet still I have done so little, when I could have spent my time drawing, or at the ironing of my clothes. There is little I can do about it now; I must endeavour to by more productive in the future.
The boys are back in town have gone home.
In fact, James and Nick flew back home over a day ago, but I've been recovering (and tidying, seriously, having guests is so messy).
I had a great old time while they were here, apart from the bits where I had to work, which was, almost all of their stay! That was annoying, but no matter.
It seems that, because I hadn't seen them in ages, I'd almost forgotten why we were friends. It is nice to be reminded. Yes, yes it is.
I really have been very lucky to have so many (well, 5) people come to visit me while I've been here in New York. I think that if they hadn't then I would have been a much more miserable person by now. As it is, I'm quite excited because there are only two weeks before I fly home. I'm sure I will miss it here a little, but it will be so nice to be home again *can't wait*
So when James and Nick were here we did stuff. Um...we went to Soho, which I had never been to before and is actually very nice. So I'll definately be going there again while I still have the chance. We also went to see Siân who lives in the middle of nowhere, otherwise known as upstate, and I went to my first out of town mall.
We ate Ethiopian food, which is unusual, and sushi, which I'm not sure really agrees with me, and fanjitas (fanjitas! har har har).
Among other things, we went to the cinema to see The Island. It is a film with an interesting concept, although not too original (Brave New world anyone? Even 1984 if you like), but with rather boring delivery. Perhaps I'm being too harsh. It started out interestingly, but once the car chases started lasting for more that 5 minutes it lost me completely. Do other people actually find car chases interesting? Anyway, Sean Bean was good.
On the same day we saw a Broadway musical, the Producers to be specific. I didn't know much about it beforehand, but I thought it might be mildly entertaining. I am glad to say that I was wrong, I really really enjoyed it, which is always a nice surprise. This show is so funny, really it is; a whole bucket of funny. The jokes seem to be more old school than new, but it doesn't matter, they are all funny. I think what makes it funny is that the timing is spot on, these actors know what they are doing. Did I mention that the show is hilarious? I nearly died.
One thing of special note is that I read a new book, although devoured would be more apt. Rarely do I read a book in a week, but i couldn't put this one down (something that hasn't occured to me since I read Crime and Punishment ages ago). And this book was? The da Vinci Code. I didn't really have any inclination to read the book beforehand, I'd heard mixed things about it. But Nick had brought it with him to read, and in a fit of boredom I read the blurb on the back of the book. I was astounded, it seemed like someone had written a book that contained exactly the type of story that I've been wanting to read for ages. I adore this kind of story; old mysteries and ancient secrets, finding clues where no-one would think to look, each one leading further and further into the past in some kind of intriguing treasure hunt. I love it; the thought that there are old secrets everywhere, in places that we would never normally notice. For example, I found it fascinating when, last year, I watched a programme about London on TV, and it told of a river, in London, that was built over, centuries ago, and no-one even knows of anymore. This tributary of the Thames actually still runs, through a pipe in a London underground station, you could walk right under it and never even know *_*
The book also contains secret societies; if you have spoken to me in the past year you will know that I harbour a fascination for freemasons. I watched another TV programme which showed that the buildings of Bath (namely the Circus) are filled with masonic symbolism. It's always exciting when I find masonic symbols on places (I've noticed some in New York even). I like to think that they are mysterious and secret and therefore really interesting. Of course, when you find out that almost every other person knows of someone that knows a mason and that they actually have a website, they become less secret and therefore less interesting. But it's still fun to look out for the symbols.
I think I was talking about the book somewhere, before I digressed like a good'un. It seems rare to find this kind of secret, ancient, mystery, treasure hunt that I like to see (although the Indianna Jones films have a little of it before they get carried away, and the computer game which I owned years ago, Broken Sword, is a great example). So the book did me nicely. The facts which it exposes about symbols and paintings and theories are insanely interesting, and it is all too easy to forget that this is a work of fiction. As for the rest of the actual plot, you know, with police and stuff, I don't care for too much, and think the book would be better without it. Also, I didn't really like the style of the writing, maybe it was just because I haven't read a modern novel in quite a while, but I felt like I was being talked down to. For God's sake! You don't need to have a cliffhanger at the end of every chapter to keep me reading! *exasperated* Still, it is a very interesting read; I think I am going to have to read Angels and Demons now, even though it seems to be an exact copy of the da Vinci Code, but with a different location and female love interest. And I get to look forward to the movie, which should be good considering the people who will be in it.
Maaan, I really want to go to London now and look at old stuff. Not even London, just a place with some history behind it (I'm sorry NYC, but you're just too new for my liking).
I have to really start thinking about all the stuff I need to sort out before I leave this city, maybe I should make a list.
Also, I just heard the new Franz Ferdinand single :D
'Well do ya, do ya do ya wanna'
And why have I eaten nothing but beef for the past three days? It's not right *feels beefy*
James and Nick are flying out to visit me tomorrow. Which'll be mighty fun and stuff. They're staying for just over a week, so I might be a little absent during that time.
On a completely unrelated note; I was at work today, as I am often, and I thought to myself:
'Imagine if the people working in this lab all lived in the lab as well. Wow, it'd be just like Big Brother, only with science!'
And this, my friends, is why I'll never be in charge of a TV station.
You might remember that on the 7th of July, there were some suicide bombings on the London underground.
And you might remember that I mentioned that one of the bombers came from my home town. With that in mind...
Today I found out that the wife of that suicide bomber from my home town, is a girl who used to be in my class at school until I was 12!!!
oAo
What on Earth?! *brain turned upside down*
I guess not too many people can say that they went to school with the wife of one of the London suicide bombers.
I remember hearing a few years back that she had turned muslim; and I thought that was an unexpected surprise.
Just, OMG. Words fail me right now.
*drastic change of subject time*
I'm going to go see Ross Noble do stand-up in December! Much thanks to Steve who got the tickets yesterday. Ah, it should be good, it should. I've only seen him do stand-up once before, on the TV, so I suppose that's not much to go by, but he was so funny (I felt kind of bad that I hadn't heard of him sooner). So that should give me a light in the middle of the tunnel of final year stress *excited*
*and doing a full 360 back to the previous subject*
O__o