Allamorph

[FONT=Arial][URL="http://tinyurl.com/laqkl8"][COLOR="Blue"]Article[/COLOR][/URL] So Simon Cowell has been criticised now for giving rough criticism and giving criticism roughly. And you know what? Reactions to him never cease to amaze me. But enough of that. The point is, do you agree with what he says? (I mean in the article, although agreeing with his criticism is also a valid angle to examine.) From my perspective, anytime you are in a situation where you're suddenly dealing with massive amounts of attention, there's going to be pressure that you're not used to. When things go great in these circumstances, the high is incredible. But the flip side of that is that the low when you mess up is gut-wrenching. I mean, I know this. I've listened to recordings of ensembles I've been in where one mistake on my part (the only one I made in that performance) sounded as bad as if I had stood up and started throwing pottery around. And it makes you sick. A situation as public as Britain's Got Talent has to be at least ten times worse. And you can't always assume people will be rational about criticism. The single biggest risk one can take as a forthright, honest critic is that the criticism you give may occasionally strike a wrong chord with someone. People don't always react well to being told they're doing things wrong.[/FONT]

[quote name='Kei;][color=darkblue][size=1]When it boils down to it, I suppose I don't care for them because they leave so much out. I can understand if you have page limits and are doing it for a magazine, but if this is a self-created endeavor that's been picked up by a company, don't you owe it ot the fans (yourself included, since you're drawing it) to include everything in the story?[/color'][/size][/quote] [FONT=Arial]The current mindset in the spinoff industry is that as long as the fan sees something with the name of their fandom on an item, they will buy that item regardless of quality. And that has been perpetuated by a overarching dearth of discriminating shoppers. The point of manga based on video games is to make money on a deadline. And unfortunately, the less a company spends putting a project together, the less of a deficit they have to overcome afterwards in order to reap a profit. Nevermind that their item won't be wildly successful. When you're marketing to a select group of people (in this case the percentage of Americans who read manga), your worries about an item becoming a huge hit diminish somewhat. That said, I find I avoid most manga based on established video games or stories because I anticipate that the results will be fairly bland and half-assed. I [I]did[/I] read the Metroid manga, but that was only because I wanted a good chuckle at the mangaka's expense, and I wasn't disappointed. (Plus seeing Samus Aran drawn in the style of Ranma 1/2 was absolutely hilarious.)[/FONT]

I don't have a problem with Communism . . . or rather, the principle. The problem isn't the theory of them. Everything works in theory. And the Federal Government has assumed the debt of the masses before; it can still function in massive amounts of debt, so offering bailout money was a legitimate move. I was opposed to the bailout not because it was bad in theory, but because it was impossible to keep uncorrupted in practice. And, well....

[FONT=Arial]I've said "Different Sound", by the Teddybears Stockholm already, but I think Herbie Hancock's [URL="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yy0qsrny58I"][COLOR="Blue"]"Chameleon"[/COLOR][/URL] also works. And so you don't die from the length, here's the shorter, more fun Ferguson arrangement.[/FONT] [CENTER][YOUTUBE="Chameleon"]9SYDO3YE2AI[/YOUTUBE][/CENTER]

[quote name='Rachmaninoff']Anyway, I find that I'm leaning more towards we should have just let them go bankrupt every time I read stuff on how they use tax money for parties and personal use of company jets.[/quote] [FONT=Arial]I declared this sentiment when I first heard about the economy tanking and was scoffed at for being ignorant of how our economy's demise would essentially doom the rest of the world for the next decade. Still haven't changed my mind.[/FONT]

[quote name='Rachmaninoff]Why does the idea of Wal-Mart offering something like this: [URL="http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/Investing/Extra/wal-mart-stumbles-over-in-store-clinics.aspx"][U]Click Meh![/U][/URL'] Make me laugh?[/quote] [FONT=Arial][INDENT][I]For a company known for its retail acumen and dominance, that retrenchment illustrates the complicated nature of incorporating basic-care facilities into a big-box business model.[/I][/INDENT] Also I have heard from Wal-Mart employees that the franchise is different now that Sam's gone. And apparently not in a good way. Who knows? Maybe we'll see a return of small-business stuff. I mean, Wal-Mart [I]did[/I] essentially run the small-time fabric stores out of business, and now that they've moved well into the removal of their own fabric departments, ain't nowhere for seamstresses like my mother to buy anything without making trips of at least forty-five minutes.[/FONT]

[quote name='Aaryanna][FONT="Tahoma"][COLOR="DarkGreen"]Anyone who thinks a President can instantly change things is kind of dumb.[/COLOR'][/FONT][/quote] [FONT=Arial]Tell that to the media. They go on about it all the time. (quote chosen for convenience, not to pick on any one person) I find it interesting how now we're all reasonable people. As opposed to earlier in the decade, when people were all but screaming for the troops to come home NOW and the war to be over NOW. And now we're all for waiting for gays and lesbians to get their comeuppance. (Take that how you will. > >) Make no mistake, guys, I'm not bitter or trying to be self-righteous or anything. I'm just amused that we're all acting like we just figured out how the system works. It's like we're all working from perfectly rationalised double standards. I mean, heck, I have no problem waiting for stuff like this to go through. I haven't had a problem for years. And I'm trying not to pass any sort of judgment until at least the last bit of 2010. In the meantime, I'm going to try and help shape my city government, see if we can get that working first. Then we'll move on to the state.[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial]So lemme get this straight. [COLOR="DarkRed"] Gavin[/COLOR] begat [COLOR="DarkRed"]Ace[/COLOR] (with [COLOR="DarkRed"]Raiha[/COLOR]?), [COLOR="DarkRed"]Deathknight[/COLOR] begat [COLOR="DarkOrange"]Rat Boy[/COLOR], Kathy begat Squeaker, and we have two established couples from Utah. Anything else I'm missing?[/FONT]

[font=Arial]"Someone called for backup." [quote name='Sabrina'][font=Tahoma]I tried really hard to at least get some action in, but I have such a hard time writing it.[/font][/quote] You need to read some more action stuff, and watch some action stuff so you can see how the visuals set up and translate into words. It won't hurt. I promise.[/font]

[FONT=Arial]My cat, Shadow, is so spoiled that she will eat only the most generic quality catfood. No high-class nibbles, no meat, nothing but cat food and milk. What a wacko.[/FONT]

[quote name='Korey][FONT="Franklin Gothic Medium"']Real gamers go to locations like Las Vegas and New York City just to engage in Video Game tournaments in the vain attempt to win a four digit check.[/FONT][/quote] [FONT=Arial]Yeah. $10.00[/FONT]

[quote name='Sangome][SIZE="1"']I've gone to bed at 5:30/6:00 before. That good enough?[/SIZE][/quote] [FONT=Arial]Close enough for jazz. [quote name='Gavin][SIZE="1"']Seven-thirty ? Such lack of dedication to your gaming. A real nerd would go without sleep until the game was beaten, or failing that reach noon at least before succumbing to sleep.[/SIZE][/quote] And then waking up looking like a walking pile of human oils. I didn't say the real gamer mark, I said the awesome mark. Real gamers are real repelling. I know. I've lived next to them.[/FONT]

[quote name='Sangome][SIZE="1"']I stayed up til 4 AM playing video games.[/SIZE][/quote] [FONT=Arial]Bah, and you couldn't make it the final three hours? Four is nothing. Going to bed at seven-thirty is the awesome mark.[/FONT]

[center][b][u][font=arial]Time[/font][/u][/b][/center] [font=calibri][b]"Oh, is that it?"[/b] Nathan laughed jovially. [b]"I would have thought that was obvious. You said it yourself; she's our 'tech girl'. Though I don't believe she would appreciate the title terribly much,"[/b] he added with a wink. [b]"That doesn't tell me a whole lot."[/b] Nathan nodded. [b]"Ah. Well, from what I understand, she's using their own communication lines against them. Intercepting transmissions and tracing LOCs and such. It's all pretty technical, which means I don't pay attention to a lot of it even if she does decide to spout off strings of jargon like most of the nerd-types tend to do."[/b] [b]"I see," [/b]said Gavrie, who looked as if he didn't. [b]"And does she?"[/b] [b]"No. She's got this whole ice-and-barbed-wire thing going. Very Women's Lib."[/b] [b]"What?"[/b] [b]"You need to spend more time Earthside."[/b] Gavrie raised his eyebrows. [b]"I'll keep that in mind,"[/b] he said drily. He considered a moment before speaking. [b]"How do we know her sources are reliable? After all, both of us thought the Jian were wiped out millennia ago. Couldn't it be someone using a famous name they got from a history book somewhere?"[/b] Nathan nodded again, looking somewhat darker. [b]"I thought of that, too,"[/b] he said, [b]"but the methods seem uncannily similar, after I think about it. Besides, you know the reputation the Jian had for weapon forging. And now the same type of research is being done, with prototypes already in live testing?"[/b] [b]"Mmm."[/b] [b]"It's too close a resemblance for me to be comfortable leaving it alone. And even if it is someone different, just the thought of a new vampire resurrecting the concept for that metal...."[/b] [b]"Yeah,"[/b] agreed Gavrie. [b]"But if you really want to be sure,"[/b] Nathan continued, [b]"I can see about setting up a meeting for the two of you. Provided we don't keep getting interrupted every ten minutes,"[/b] he said, rolling his eyes. Gavrie spun, scythe out, scanning the trees for intruders. [b]"Which way?"[/b] [b]"Easy there, Quick Draw." [/b]Nathan chuckled. [b]"I'm buzzing. Hang on."[/b] He withdrew his cell phone from his hip pocket and glanced at it. Surprise flitted across his face for a moment, but he answered it happily. [b]"Hey! How's itâ??hold on."[/b] He snapped serious. [b]"Slow down, and say that again."[/b] As he listened, he slid his free hand up over his eyes, kneading his temples with his outstretched fingers. He sighed heavily. [b]"Okay. Okay. We'll get you out. Hang on for now and do what you can." [/b]He flipped the device closed, squeezing it to ease his tension. [b]"Trouble on the home front?"[/b] asked Gavrie? [b]"Something like that."[/b] Nathan slid the phone back into its pocket and, reaching into his blazer, withdrew another slightly larger phone, this one silver. Flipping it open, he drew his finger down and off the screen, and lights appeared from the console, spreading out to either side. Nathan began typing rapidly with his right hand. Gavrie's eyebrows went up. [b]"Care to share?"[/b] he prodded. [b]"I'm afraid our meeting has to be cut short again,"[/b] the blue man answered, not looking up. [b]"Something important has come up."[/b] [b]"Oh, that's fine,"[/b] Gavrie replied. [b]"I had other things I needed to finish as well."[/b] [b]"No,"[/b] said Nathan, dismissing the lights as the two spirits turned to leave, [b]"you don't quite understand." [/b]He closed the second device and replaced it. [b]"Sorry."[/b] And then he was between them, gripping them both by the arm. [b]"[i]Settan kairos![/i]"[/b] The world shattered, and all sense of direction vanished. The cold of a dimensional shift set in, but instead of a liquid crash, the three bounced off the surface at an angle, and open plains reformed around them. Off in the distance, a lone silo jutted against the flat horizon. [b]"What the hellâ??"[/b] [b]"Where are we?"[/b] demanded Karl. [b]"Kansas,"[/b] replied Nathan. [b]"It's as close as I could get, but we still have a decent flight ahead of us. Come on; we need to hurry."[/b] Gavrie balked, visibly angered. [b]"I don't have time for this, Nathan. I have tasksâ??"[/b] Nathan whirled and locked Gavrie's gaze. His aura pulsed harshly against the air. [b]"You will fight for me."[/b] The other hesitated, then sighed. [b]"I understand,"[/b] he acquiesced. [b]"Good."[/b] Nathan relaxed. [b]"Follow me. We don't have much time."[/b][/font] [center][font=calibri]----------------------------[/font][/center] [font=calibri]Isen looked abjectly at the suddenly active crystal in her hand. The message it held was startling, but even more startling was the source. Nathan never used that device.[/font] [indent=1][font=courier new,courier,monospace]Kids acted without permission. Ambush. Next raid destination. Get inside, keep them alive. I will send you help. Chris outside, block reinforcements. Thirty minutes out. No time. Go.[/font][/indent] [font=calibri]The werecat rose from the couch and made a grab for her boots. [b]"Christine," [/b]she called.[/font]

[FONT=Arial]That's probably because the original creator modeled the concept after [I]Shinigami No Ballad[/I]. He was a little uncreative like that, and none of the rest of us have watched it, so it's evolved by now into an entirely different direction. Most of the cuteness is gone. Also the white-haired girl is dead by now. Creator dropped out and . . . well, it was in character.[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial]It's big if you want it to be big. So have fun with it. :animesmil[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial]The sequence of posts directly before this one contain great irony and justice. :animesmil Also I have some semblance of work starting next week. About freaking time.[/FONT]

[quote name='Vicky][size=1']...about as useful as a one-legged guard dog...[/size][/quote] [FONT=Arial]Named [URL="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3HGwIFJneeY"][COLOR="Blue"]Li'l Brudder[/COLOR][/URL]?[/FONT]

[QUOTE=taperson][SIZE="1"][COLOR="RoyalBlue"]You know what I hate? I hate it when boys are all "omg wtf, I like you" & you're all "omg wtf, I like you, too" & they're all cute & sweet & kiss you on the forehead & tell you they're happy you visited & all that jazz & then within the next three days barely talk to you at all & make horrible conversation when they DO talk. Grrr. I don't even know what I'm angry about anymore. I hate boys.[/COLOR][/SIZE][/QUOTE] [FONT=Arial]Point of advice: men are really bad at expressing emotions or feelings that they're [I][U]actually[/U] [U]having[/U][/I], so guys who say stuff like that are probably saying it to say it because they've figured it's the quickest way to . . . whatever they happen to be after at that moment in time. When we really want to say something, we tend to take forever to actually come around and say it. So if it seems like it was easy and fluid and awesome....[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial]There's the thing, though. What is there to 'wrap up'? The story was about the relationship between Syaoran and Sakura. It's always been about that relationship. Everything that drove the plot somehow tied back to that relationship. And now that relationship has finally culminated. I just don't see anything else that can be done without the story seeming . . . I dunno, anticlimactic.[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial]I'm pretty sure from how the story has been moving lately that the other universe, with Fai and Kurogane and co, has been completely and utterly erased as part and parcel of the reincarnation of the clones, who are now the real people again. Remember, the [I]logic[/I] of that universe was shattered. Not just the worlds. The basic logic holding them together was broken beyond repair. (Which also means that as of now, Fei Wong's wish remains ungranted. We'll see how that works, though, since [spoiler]that's also Watanuki's wish[/spoiler]) The only way that such a thing could be fixed, at least to my mind, is total erasure. Again, I could be wrong. But that's the feel I'm getting.[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial]Little late, but [COLOR="DarkRed"]Vicky[/COLOR] wears white hair very well. I think it's her best color, actually. Hunh.[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial]If the series ended here, I would be satisfied.[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial]Y'know what? I miss [COLOR="indigo"]deadSeraphim[/COLOR]. I mean, man. Sucks.[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial]If I were a billionaire I would probably have already spent money on stuff to make certain I didn't have to worry about being a billionaire. I save money because I'm poor. Saving it if I were not would seem kind of strange. Although I have no idea what I'd be spending it on. Music and books, probably. And big tracts of land. Also, is it just me, or did this thread title seem really sarcastic?[/FONT]