Claire

I love that vid, definitely a classic. I thought I wouldn't laugh because I've seen it plenty of times before but it still got me! I have so many favorite videos I gotta really think about which one to share... Let's try this one: https://youtu.be/O0cAx1jLbJk

I missed the whole thing but I was rooting for the Cubs the whole time. I'm a Rays fan, so I'm very familiar with the Cubs manager Joe Maddon. He took us to the World Series in 2008 and when I learned he was going to the Cubs I just KNEW he was going to help them break the curse.

I think about OB every now and then. A decade ago, it was my favorite place on the internet. It's kind of strange to see so many familiar names in this thread. I didn't know Desbreko personally. He invited me to join the OB staff when I was 14 years old. I remember being so excited and telling everyone I knew that I was going to be a moderator. I think my name on here was Amelia back then. To his friend and and family, I'm sorry for your loss. Des helped me grow here on OB and I'll always fondly remember the time I spent here.

  I think what actually happened is that the series was supposed to be a single book long, and then before it finished airing Nick ordered two more seasons. Honestly there was so much corporate meddling involved with the production of Korra that it's kind of impressive how good it ended up being. After a few episodes of book 3 leaked the network took it off the air altogether and only released the remaining episodes online. Since production on book 4 was already underway they opted not to outright cancel it and continued the online streaming until nearly the end of the series, and they actually cut the budget before it was done.    So really you could easily blame most of the writing flaws on all that malarkey.   It makes sense for Bryke to want a break from the Avatar world, especially after all the nonsense Nick put them through, but since there's such a huge following I think they could easily find a different network to fund a future Avatar series. I think some fans have been soliciting Amazon, maybe even Netflix would want to get in on it. But I know the creators don't have plans to write a new Avatar story anytime soon. Nick is probably sitting on that IP anyway.

Omg. The finale almost killed me. I woke up that day to CRAZY HUBBUB on tumblr so I basically had THE BIG THING spoiled for me before I watched the episode, but I was still really excited to see exactly what happened. And I still ended up crumpled on the floor practically weeping with joy.    I have never been especially impressed with the storytelling throughout Korra, and the final season definitely wrapped everything up too hastily, BUT I don't watch Korra for its writing. I watch it for the strong, diverse, multi-faceted female characters and the incredibly animated ass-kickings they dole out. Korra has got to be one of my favorite cartoon characters of all time, and as evil as Kuvira turned out I can't help but admire her.   [spoiler]And Korrasami was just about the best thing that ever happened to me and I am not kidding not even a little bit.[/spoiler]

This girl I really like bought me chocolate, video games, and special bath stuff, so we're gonna spend some quality time in the tub playing the new Monster Hunter.   [spoiler]THE GIRL I REALLY LIKE IS MEEEEEEEEEEEEE[/spoiler]

I'm all about frozen foods. If I can throw it in the microwave for a minute and at least have something that doesn't taste like hot garbage, I'm set. There are some really good Lean Cuisines; mushroom mezzaluna ravioli, french bread pizza. Lean Pockets are okay. I used to eat those Amy's burritos a lot too.    for healthier frozen options I have Green Giant steamers. right now my favorite is brussels sprouts but the honey carrots are also quite good.    there is one non-frozen thing I can think of that's still super easy to make. you need a single serving cup of instant rice, a can of lentil soup, and a sweet potato (you can microwave those). all it needs is some curry powder. it's absurdly filling and has a good mix of flavors. it takes less than ten minutes altogether and you don't even have to pay any attention to it because it's being microwaved. IDEAL.

I pretty much only browse YouTube when I'm really bored or to look for absurd videos with my friends. I like Kim and Hannah of the Yogscast, mostly when they play horror games together. I also like Achievement Hunter's Go and Versus series, but I never really bother with the actual gameplay videos. Actually, most of what I do watch consistently on YouTube is video game content. I'm playing around with running my own channel but I've got too many things going on to give it much effort.   One of my favorite series is Beer and Board Games, which is exactly what it sounds like. Some folks get drunk and play board games, and they are hilarious. My favorite episode is Nightmare III.    As for the kinds of videos I find funny, let me just say this: you can stop at five or six stores, or just one.

  I picked up XIII a few months ago during an Xbox binge, despite never before finishing a Final Fantasy game. Once I survived the first hour or so it really clicked for me and I got a little addicted. I looooove Lightning, we have the same first name. And Fang and Vanille KILL ME. I'm scared to finish the game because I keep having dreams that something horrible happens to them and my big gay heart can't take it. Also for some reason everything on Gran Pulse just vaporizes me and I can barely get anything done. I actually haven't touched the game since before Christmas...and I've had to get a new Xbox/HDD since then, whoops.   Other than that, I haven't been playing games very much lately. Still check up on ACNL every now and then. My friends and I like to play a couple rounds of The Yawgh sometimes. That's about it. 

Too many times I will have an amazing idea for a video game and just no chance of ever being able to play it because I don't have magic powers and no one is going to make the game for me.    Right now I'm dreaming about a Madoka Magica RPG. I know there are a couple Japanese games but I have no way to play or enjoy them. This Madoka game would probably be a lot like Final Fantasy as far as the battle system goes, since the skills and powers of the magical girls have such aesthetic potential. The anime also offers a pretty good gameplay idea in that you go around killing witches. There could be a custom character option where you build your own magical girl, and a co-op mode where you hunt witches with friends. I would pay good money to play a game like this.   There's also the Skyrim-Pokemon fusion idea that a lot of people drool over. It would pretty much be an open world, massively multiplayer Pokemon game, featuring every region and every Pokemon. I think that would be really cool on the Wii U, or even the 3DS.    Similarly, I think a Legend of Zelda mmo would be fun. No idea what kind of stuff you would do since Zelda has always been so singular in its gameplay, but there is enough lore and stuff to make an mmo fun.    Finally, I recently sank several days into the latest Tomb Raider and got the idea for a kind of hunting game. I've never played hunting games before so I'm not sure how similar this idea would be to them, but essentially you'd play a survivalist (like Lara Croft) hunting monsters in various locations. It might be a little bit like Monster Hunter but with guns--maybe 1st person optional. You'd have to collect resources like food, water, sticks, furs, etc., and utilize them to get by in the wilderness, and you could sell your haul in a town. It would probably be the most fun as an mmo, as well, but I feel like I would enjoy spending time playing by myself.

I haven't been to a concert in so long. I've actually performed in more concerts this year than I've been an audience member. Did I even go to any shows at all this year? I honestly can't remember.   WAIT I LIED, I literally just saw Trans-Siberian Orchestra the other night. Tenth year in a row going to their concert! Skipped two of my own performances to make it. WORTH IT.   There are tons of venues around here, including four or five arenas, several performing arts centers, and a handful of bars and clubs. I prefer going to smaller venues but it's rare that I feel like paying $10 and trying to down a PBR to enjoy someone I've probably never heard before (even though there's a 90% chance I will enjoy it no matter what).    I just bought tickets to see Neutral Milk Hotel a bridge over in May and I am stoked about that. Loved them since I was a freshman in college, and I figured with how elusive they are I'd never get a chance to see them play. I might also go see Kevin Devine when he plays near my city in February because one of my favorite musicians, Laura Stevenson, is opening for him. 

From my own personal experience, it can be hard to grow to like a place that already feels well-established. I've tried to become active on various forums and just couldn't find a way in because the posters seemed so tight knit already. It's already been mentioned that new members should be the focus for this comeback attempt. Perhaps we should see a consolidation of nostalgia threads, of which there are four or five in the midst of the General Discussion threads. It's always nice for veterans to have a place to reflect on old times, but I don't think there needs to be more than one thread for that kind of thing. Maybe one sticky? Maybe even none?   Of course there won't be any sort of activity by new folks if there aren't any new folks. I don't have many ideas for getting people over here, other than what's already been mentioned or things that just aren't possible for such a small forum to accomplish. There needs to be a big draw to the community, something people get here that they won't get elsewhere. I can't think of what that might be.   When I think of forums nowadays, I pretty much only think of reddit. It could be possible to advertise over there, especially on /r/anime or whatever, but it would have to be in a way that's not just "hey come to this forum we need blood." Maybe an event with a nice prize? Something to get people engaged, something with the promise of a good return. We used to have so many events here, from art and writing contests to general game threads and stuff like that. I was never good at running those, though, and who knows if the old gamemasters even have the time or patience anymore. Worth a shot? 

  That is absolutely brilliant. I might have to start doing that, even though my family doesn't really have that kind of sense of humor.

  I neglected to take any good photos of my Halloween costume so have this potato.