Rachmaninoff

Naturally I just had to come across this thread when I'm listening to Rachmaninoff's second piano concerto. I've been listening to his works today and the second piano concerto is my favorite. Though if it wasn't Rachmaninoff, it probably would have been a different composer. I tend to listen to that far more than rock and I rarely 'blare' it so to speak. Piano concerto's are not meant to 'scream' in one's ears. That sort of takes the fun out of it.

[quote name='2007DigitalBoy'][COLOR="DarkOrange"]Years ago I was obsessed with ToS but I was always afraid the next games wouldn't live up to it. From what you describe, though, it might be worth it. Anyway, thought you might like to know that [B]Tales of Symphonia 2[/B] is currently in development.[/COLOR][/QUOTE]It is, I've been playing it and though it gets off to a slow start, once it gets going and you start picking up moves, it becomes more fun since you have a lot more options than Symphonia ever had. And I liked Tales of Symphonia. lol Also, at the same time it has a semi-auto mode for when you're feeling lazy so that's really nice too. That and Mieu is adorable, I hated how Corrine in Symphonia wasn't really around all that much. But Mieu? Mieu is great fun. And I have to agree with Dagger, the dub for this is excellent. I was surprised at how well done it was. Anyway, I have yet to finish it, but it is one of the games I am currently working on. The other is Star Ocean: Till the End of Time. Though I'm getting close to finally finishing that one. Though from what I've read, some of the bonus dungeons are pretty time consuming. As for my gamecube, I haven't played anything on it for a while so it's just collecting dust at the moment.

Well I'm not going to repeat what SunfallE said since I agree, but I did want to point out how I like that the story seems to have more than one direction. At first glance it seems to be a story of a human who dies and realizes that he had become a Shinigami after death. And yet at the same time I find myself wondering if that is not the case. But rather it is the Shinigami who has been inhabited by either the soul of a human they sent on their way, or the memories of one, resulting in the separation and thus the confusion as to why there are two within one mind. The question being is it the mind of the human that is seperated or the Shinigami's mind that has merged with the humans mind and thus created chaos? Though I could be reading too much into it. Still I am curious as to where you intend to go with it. Just as I'm curious as to what really happened.

[quote name='2007DigitalBoy'][COLOR="DarkSlateGray"]Also, on the computer i'm using, for some reason the main thred post is all in red. Anyone else see this?[/COLOR][/QUOTE]I don't see any red in either thread, other than the red in your banner you just put up. So I can't help you there, I have no idea why it's showing up in red.

[quote name='Clurr;787607][font=arial]...are the most annoying things anyone could ever think of.[/font][/QUOTE]I honestly can't relate, since even though I never took classes that resulted in summer assignments, I always had music lessons twice a month and practicing to do every day of the week. About the only exception is that sometimes I'd take Sunday's off. I suppose the reason it wasn't annoying is I like doing it. [quote name='Clurr;787607][font=arial]So, complain about your own summer assignments, about how much of a waste of time they are (especially since summer break is a time to RECOVER).[/font][/QUOTE]On some level I don't think they are a waste, but then even in college I've always taken summer classes as well. About the only difference is I'd take a lighter work load so I'd only have classes three to four times a week. That was how I recovered, so to speak, a lighter workload so I could do more fun things while the weather was warm. So I can't really complain since I've gotten use to it.[QUOTE=Clurr'][font=arial]Or you could praise them for being useful, [SIZE="1"]but if you do I'll beat you up. >:[[/SIZE'][/font][/quote]I'm guessing this is the point where I get beaten up right? But then I can't help but think that way, I know my goals in eventually getting my doctorate in music has been strengthened by all those summers that I did practice. It's helped me get to where I am now, close to getting my masters degree. Taking time off has the opposite effect for what I'm doing. I got hurt in a car accident last year and couldn't practice for several months, it really hurt as I was playing catch up for a while to regain some of the edge I lost.

[quote name='Aaryanna_Mom']At this rate we may have it done before both of you return to school.[/QUOTE]Or even sooner, I just took everything you guys sent me and wrote up a rough draft and sent it to both of you. I don't even want to think about how much time I've spent on this so far. XP Anyway, I'm still going to hunt down more stuff, but still even if I find nothing else, we've got more than enough. Frankly I'm surprised at all the information we've found on this. So regardless of who wins, Otakupedia is going to get a fantastic article. :catgirl:

[quote name='2007DigitalBoy'][COLOR="DarkOrange"]What say you? Am I at the age already where I need to work for my future, or do I still get to be a kid a while longer?[/COLOR][/QUOTE]The fact that you are even asking this means you need to move on, getting into the mode of thinking I want to be a kid longer, even though I can see all these things before me that need to be done... That's not a good mindset to get into. If you do that, next year you'll feel even worse for putting things off. If you have any idea of the possible colleges you might attend, then find out of those extra classes will do you any good, if not, then there's no reason to take them. As for skipping out on homework and barely getting by, that needs to stop. You're not doing yourself any favors by barely getting through your classes. You don't have to instantly become super responsible overnight, but if you start making a point of doing so much homework a day, before you do anything fun, in no time it becomes a habit and later on you'll be glad you did it. Trust me, having fun is more enjoyable when you have the satisfaction of not having unfinished tasks like that hanging over your head.

In other words, what things about yourself are you proud of, whether its physical or mental. Perhaps it's a skill or a job that you're really good at. And by proud I mean you are almost on the vain side over it. It's something that is one of the driving forces in your life that keeps you going. It's easy enough to think of things you aren't good at, but those things that you really shine at? Anyway, I'll start. The thing I am proud of is my playing ability. I've worked pretty damn hard at it over the years and I think it's coming together rather well. It's not just a matter of thinking I'm good, my teachers have told me I'm good. It's the one thing in my life that I'm really proud of. I like playing the Cello and I intend to make it my career. In all honesty I can't imagine my life without it. Now... What about the rest of you? What are you proud of and why?

[quote name='Aaryanna_Mom']So our goal should be to post the article no later than the 24th of this month since that will give them an entire week to do the review. Just as it gives us two weeks to write up the article. [/QUOTE]Sounds good to me. With school starting on the 20th, that just gives me more motivation to get my part done before then. And with that in mind I went through and organized all the stuff I found earlier. I sent both of you a copy. :) I'll keep searching for more tidbits on the forum in question. Even if we already have enough for an excellent article there's no reason why we can't find as much as possible about it. Anyway, once I've taken a break, since I spent a while organizing the stuff, I'll start looking again.

[quote name='NightmareVC'][COLOR="Red"]Right... assumptions. That's why she came back with a plate full of food and began eating hungrily? "Big brother" is my older brother. If it were me, I would say " me/I". I wish the marriage worked now, but that's not what matters is it? I just asked for advice, not for you to critique my life. So far all I've done was answer questions. Then you question my answers? On top of that, disrespect my family, calling them messed up? I don't remember asking for you to tell me what you thought [b]about[/b] my family. What did I ever do to you?[/COLOR][/QUOTE]Slow down there, don't get so worked up here. It's common knowledge that divorced families are messed up, it's hard on the parents and the kids. And come on! Surely you expected people to honestly say what they got from what you posted instead of an instant I'm sorry do this sort of deal. You're talking about a potentially explosive situation, and I for one would not blindly give advice without asking for more information. Try taking that chip off your shoulder and calm down. After all you yourself pointed out how things were messed up, all I did was restate that. :animesigh And you seem more angry than anything. All I'm saying... is try to look beyond your mom's actions to see if there is more going on instead of saying it's all her fault. That was my advice, since that too is often true in these cases, both parents make mistakes, I don't expect you to follow the advice and realistically it's not the best advice since other than what you've said I don't know the 'whole' story.

[quote name='NightmareVC'][COLOR="Red"]The reason she stormed away was because we were at a buffet and her plate was empty. she's an obese woman that cares too much about food.[/color][/QUOTE]You're making an assumption again. :animesigh And it's still a bit hard to get the whole picture here since some of what you say makes no sense. I mean who is 'big brother' since I got the impression that it was you, your little brother, and your mom and dad at the restaurant. I'm assuming now that you have an older brother as well. And to be frank it sounds like you've got a negative attitude towards your mom as well. I'm not saying she hasn't been a bad parent, it just looks like she's getting all the blame for a marriage that didn't work out. And yes divorces are full of all sorts of messed up problems, just don't be so quick to point fingers, since it sounds like this 'big brother' is equally as messed up as your mom perhaps even more so if he 'practically' made you kill kittens, though I'm not sure how that works. Anyway, regardless I do hope things get better or at least calm down in the near future.

[quote name='Aaryanna'][COLOR="goldenrod"][FONT="Comic Sans MS"]I know I want our topic and soon. >_< If only because I start school again on the 20th. XP So I'll have less free time. And I know that my Mom is still planning on doing the challenge, and even Rach, though he too starts school on the 20th. [/FONT][/COLOR][/QUOTE]Me too, since like you said school starts on the 20th. Though I already addressed this concern to Sandy. But seriously, I'd like to get things going, especially since I still have next week off and therefore time to actually help hunt down the information we need. If not, then Sandy already said he'd take care of it. So I'll leave it to his capable hands at that point. [B]EDIT: [/B] Well it seems we have our topic and I'm glad to finally see it since I wanted to be able to work on this before I begin school again. And with that in mind I did a search and trust me, I found tons of stuff to use for this. Heh, I sent all the links to everything along with my final thoughts on the topic I think we should give them to both of you. Regardless of whoever wins, this article is going to be fantastic. Once you guys check out the links I sent you, you'll understand. :) Anyway, I'll work on it some more later today. Oh and just for the record, there's no need to consult me again as far as the topic goes, whatever you finally decide on Kathy is fine by me.

[quote name='Sandy']As for my family troubles? Well, my alcoholic mother's in jail for manslaughter. 'Nuff said.[/QUOTE]>_< Sorry to hear that. Honestly, I can't even imagine that since my mom's a sweetheart. Anyway, looks like both Darren and Sandy beat me to it but definately don't be so quick to jump to conclusions. Darren is correct in that the court doesn't just hand over custody over one account of abuse, it takes far more than that. And in the end, if you really thought she was threatening to kill him, did it ever occur to you to ask her? You say you were just making jokes about guy stuff, but just what did those jokes entail? Where you being crude and vulgar? I know plenty of mom's who get upset to hear that kind of stuff being said by their kids. You say what she brought up was irrelevant but without knowing what was said or just what she brought up I can't agree with that. Obviously on some level, to her it was relevant. If anything perhaps you should try talking to her once she's cooled off. After all, the fact that she did leave shows that even she could tell she was getting too angry. And her bit about making someone stop may have had nothing to do with killing someone. So don't assume that it did. After all you can't read her mind.

Well, its a pity they took this off the air. I've been picking up the DVD's as they release them and it's a fantastic show. I love the twist of how Shinichi has been turned into a kid and now he not only has to re-attend elementary school but he's got tag along friends in that age group. But what I like best is how even though the men in black mystery seems to be up in the air so to speak, the rest of the mysteries are not. Each and every episode is a complete case on it's own. Though I feel bad that poor Conan ends up making it look like Richard is the one solving the cases. Heh, that would suck. The only thing I don't like? Over four hundred episodes and it's still running. At this rate I'll be retired before they manage to get around to translating the rest of this show. XP

Well I'm sure you'll probably answer this once the rp actually starts, but I was wondering how heaven and hell fit into this, or if they do at all. In other words, when we send people on, are we specifically sending them to the equivalent of heaven or hell? Or to something different?

[quote name='Allamorph'][FONT=Arial]Bother you. The point of studies like these is so that the rest of us can laugh. (Especially the serious ones.) Music majors have no lives. It can't be helped; it's inherent in our particular discipline. Ergo, we have no time for sex. Sad, but true. [I]Trombone[/I] majors, on the other hand....[/FONT][/QUOTE]I know they exist for laughing at. I've just seen that same type of study one to many times. lol Besides. Maybe other Music majors have no time for sex, but that's never been a problem for me. XP Sure I'm probably not getting laid as often as an English major is. but still... It's often enough. lol Though I will admit that the times right before a major performance are pretty barren, too much practicing to do to get ready. >_< You barely have time to sleep and eat let alone anything else. lol Fortunately that only happens about six or seven times a year. At least for me. And the next performance isn't until the 21st of next month.

Ouch! I was not expecting you to get captured Beth. Looks like its down to Aaryanna and BKstyles. And with you back at OtakuBoards, I'm wondering how that's going to work out. Though I'm assuming that since Sandy seems to know every step you take that the rest of us who are already back are also watching as well. In which case... Aaryanna, all you have to do is kick BKstyles in the shins, zap him with your mod rod and take off! :D Anyway, I'm looking forward to the final chapter coming up. And I too hope Sandy gets clobbered in the end. I mean terrorists? XP No wonder there are so many cops and security hunting for everyone! LOL!

[quote name='Shinmaru;786701]And I guess the figure for communications students is so miniscule that it isn't even placed on the graph. What a surprise. :([/QUOTE]The same goes for music majors it seems. They couldn't be bothered to list us either. [quote name='The Blue Jihad''](read enough Walt Whitman and you go nuts).[/quote]Or you fall asleep. Much in the same way Mozart will put me to sleep, I love his music, but if I'm already tired, it does me in. lol Anyway, studies like that are interesting, but they too are meh. Like any other study, the results are far from being totally accurate.

Darren had heard the rumors about Civil War, just like everyone else, but for the most part he had not believed them. There were quite a few rumors floating about and he was sure this one was no different. That is until the shipping protocols program flagged him with an unusual occurrence. It was merely meant to keep track of surplus supplies should the need to move them to a different sector that needed it more came up. And at first he hadn't thought anything about it, that is, until he realized that the excess supplies was in sector nine, where the extended families of the remaining High Council members who had not been cleared lived. At that point he had decided to hand the information over to Sandra. It was probably nothing, but if the rumors were true at all, it was something she would want to know about. Now if things could only go back to normal, well as normal as could be expected. He would still be stuck with the job of being the shipping expert. A job that even now he still did not want. Blaine may have been dealt with, but he was not the only one who wanted him dead. Though Jared assured him that Blaine's trial and execution would most likely put an end to others trying to do the same. Now if he could just figure out what was bothering Kerstin so much. [CENTER]-----------------------------------------[/CENTER] Kerstin had returned to her quarters after taking a moment to go down to Reflection with her escort to pick up some supplies for painting. She thought that perhaps by getting back to work she could get her mind off of what she had learned. Or rather what she thought she had learned. After all Daniel had never admitted to being Daniel Landers instead of Daniel Timbers. [I]I'm such an idiot.[/I] She thought. [I]I should have left it alone.[/I] She finished setting up a spot with several canvases, but before Kerstin opened any of the paints she left to go into the bedroom and change into a set of worn pants and a paint stained shirt. Then she expertly braided her hair and wrapped it into a bun at the nape of her neck. Kerstin took a moment to check herself in the mirror and then went back out to the main room. She stood there for a moment as she decided which painting to work on. The one of the home world from space? Or the one of the beach at Reflection? But even that was not enough to still her thoughts. [I]I need to stop avoiding Jared, otherwise he's going to wonder what's going on. [/I] Though she figured that by now he probably already thought that something was up. Kerstin sighed a bit as she decided to work on the view of the home world from space, she set up the stand with the tray for the paints and mixing the colors.[I] Hell,[/I] she thought even as she started opening the paints. [I]Quit thinking about it! Unless you're going to tell Jared it doesn't matter! [/I] Kerstin finished mixing the paints and started working, but still she couldn't get it out of her mind. It still made no sense, whether he really was Daniel Landers or not. She still did not understand why he had endured what he did. Kerstin sighed. [I]I wish Daniel would leave sector one. Then I could tell Jared and get it over with. [/I] Not that she wanted to, but she didn't want to get in trouble if Jared found out that she knew and said nothing. With a sigh of disgust she tried to put the thought aside and work on the painting. And for a while she succeeded as thoughts of Daniel were replaced by ones of what she was doing to finish the painting.

Well I was never isolated by it for the simple reason that until last year I never really watched it. I did however get treated like a nerd for liking classical type music instead of rock when I was in High School. But when you're in an Orchestra you end up with friends who are a part of it too so that didn't matter much. Still, I do have to thank your stupid principal and teacher for taking your books and destroying them Crystia. After all if they hadn't done that, your parents probably wouldn't have moved you to another High School and we might have never met. So that turned out to be a good thing in the end. ;)

[quote name='2007DigitalBoy'][COLOR="DarkOrange"]I would be melted. ...>_> *hates chocolate*[/COLOR][/QUOTE]You and me both, I've tried to like chocolate, I've simply taken it when offered, but in the end? I don't really care for it. Unless it's in something like chocolate chip cookies. Those are good, but an actual chocolate bar? Meh, not my thing. Especially if it's one of those supposedly really rich and creamy types. Those are even worse.

[quote name='taperson'][COLOR="DeepSkyBlue"][SIZE="1"]As for Santa Clause, the Tooth Fairy, the Easter Bunny, the Hannakuh Armadillo, etc... I was out of that by the time I was 9. [/SIZE][/COLOR][/QUOTE]Heh, same here I was about nine when all of that stuff went out the door, some of it a little sooner. As for religion... Religion took longer, it wasn't until I was almost eighteen, that I finally shut the door on that and left it behind. It would take a long time to go over the different things I encountered that slowly changed my mind on that. But now? I don't believe in a Higher Power at all. I'd like to, but I don't accept man's view of what that High Power is. Especially since so many of them can't make up their minds on that.

[quote name='2007DigitalBoy'][COLOR="DarkOrange"]It's my birthday tommorrow (today: festivities). [B]None of your birthdays are special enough to warrant a thread[/B], but half because I want to show off and half because I'm conceited, my birthday brings about discussion! I've got a ton of questions, too, to keep things interesting.[/COLOR][/QUOTE]That's because my birthday is special enough that everyone already knows about it. :p Well at least the day that is. lol Mine is October 31, Halloween. And yes DB you are conceited, but then we already knew that. ;) And Happy Birthday in advance. Anyway on to the questions... [B] 1. Do you have any birthday traditions?[/B] Only one. It's always Halloween themed. As for everyone else in my family, the get together and party is usually nothing more than having cake and ice cream and then either talking about a lot of stuff, watching movies or playing video games. Basically we just have a good time. [B]2. What was your best birthday present ever? (if you say 'life' I'll slap you!)[/B] Well I can't really say ever since that could change, but so far the best was a really nice Cello I wanted in High School. My parents were reluctant to spend the money on it since they figured it was a fad I would outgrow. Obviously I did not and even though I no longer use it, I still have that first one that they bought for me. [B]3. Has knowing your age ever given you a certain midnset? Did you ever feel like you'd passed a certain rung or like you had to change?[/B] Other than becoming legal, no. And even then, becoming legal only meant I was able to buy other things I couldn't before. It's kind of silly since I don't smoke or drink, so that change was a bit redundant for me. [B]4. What was your favorite birthday?[/B] As sentimental as this will sound, the first one I had after I met Crystia. Ironically we share the same birthday and we were born the same year, though she's older than me. :p Well by a few hours at least. lol But still she was one of my newest friends at the time and that day in High School as well as the other stuff we did together for fun was one of my most memorable days. And no DB, we did not do what you are probably thinking so get your mind out of the gutter. lol

Well since you said this in the other thread Hanbun no Tsuki ga Noboru Sora:[quote name='2007DigitalBoy'][COLOR="DarkOrange"]Since I heard that this show is very tonally similar to SnB, I definitely reccommend Shinigami no Ballad to both of you. Especially since my rp your both in is based on it XD[/COLOR][/QUOTE]I went and found fan subs of this and watched them, in fact I just finished probably about an hour ago. I wasn't sure what to expect since though both this and the other show are similar in that they are only six episodes each. This one deals with Shinigami who's existence is yet to be proved. Where in the other, Rika's illness is real. So in that respect they are quite different. Anyway... As for the actual show I agree with what Aaryanna was saying about Momo, it's clear she has a much deeper interest beyond simply doing her job as a Shinigami. And I found how she flashed [spoiler]an ID card to people rather funny. I mean she was glowing and floating as well as having a flying cat with bat like wings. [/spoiler] Making it obvious that she was who she claimed to be. lol I found the last episode the most interesting. I mean the others were fun, but I liked how with the last one she took advantage [spoiler]of the fact that the girl didn't realize that she really wasn't dead to help her want to live.[/spoiler] So I'll echo the sentiment that this is definately worth taking the time to watch.

[quote name='SunfallE'][COLOR="goldenrod"][FONT="Comic Sans MS"]It's good at sucking you in, I know I fell for it. Once I started watching it, I wanted to know if [spoiler]Rika lived or died at the end of the series. [/spoiler] I ended up watching all six episodes back to back. And though it did [spoiler]have a good ending, it was bittersweet and sad. [/spoiler] [/FONT][/COLOR][/QUOTE]I have to agree, that it pulls you in once you realize just what Rika is in the hospital for. I did the same thing you did I watched it from beginning to end and the whole time I was wondering just how in the world they intended to end it. Ironically I'm surprised DB hasn't watched this yet, it has some very obvious moments that would appeal to him. lol Especially when Yuichi inherits [spoiler]all those porn magazines and books from the old man [/spoiler] who was in the hospital as well. All the misunderstandings that resulted from that were too funny. Also at first I really loathed Goro Natsume, even if he was a doctor, he was a jackass. The way he [spoiler]deliberately interfered with Yuichi and Rika was cruel, sure he may have thought he meant well, but getting drunk and beating up Yuichi was pretty pathetic. [/spoiler] I did get the biggest kick out of Akiko Tanizaki, she was hilarious from the very beginning. The way she just clobbered any patient that got out of line, as well as her [spoiler]obsession with racing. The time when she raced those other guys driving a sports car... That was priceless. [/spoiler] Anyway, I agree, it's definitely worth checking out. And yes I did [spoiler]like the nice romantic ending, even if it was bittersweet. [/spoiler] It made me want to see more, to see just [spoiler] how long Rika lived and what they did. Like getting married, etc. Though I'm assuming that since the intro ends with a picture of them as if taken at a wedding, that they did indeed end up married.[/spoiler]