Gavin

[SIZE=1]Migraine. >_

[SIZE=1]Hmm the time travel one piqued my interest, could you give a bit more info on that one JJ ? We did the zombie one a while back and sadly it just sort of fizzled out because there was no overall plot. [/SIZE]

[quote name='Magus'][COLOR=navy]Characterization is handled a lot better in One Piece than Naruto. (I actually enjoy main characters for once) The "friendship" theme is handled better.[/COLOR][/quote] [SIZE=1]I may try the series again in a few days (after The Lost Symbol anything will seem good) as I did like the majority of the characters with the exception of Luffy himself who has moments of such dire stupidity I want to tie an anchor to his legs and toss him into the sea. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=1]Based on an off-hand remark between myself and a friend during a conversation today I'm curious how people are going to refer to the coming year, that is to say will you say [B]two thousand and ten[/B],[B] two thousand ten[/B] or [B]twenty-ten[/B], and why ? Personally I fall into the latter camp of twenty ten, simply because it's the fluid to say and most modern sounding by comparison, two thousand and ten, or the shorter two thousand ten are rather a mouthful. Added to that most almost every pronunciation of a year occurring after 2009 up to and possibly including the next millennium use the twenty x form. [/SIZE]

[quote name='Stephanie'][SIZE=1]I hate being exhausted to the point where you can't sleep; especially since I can't STAND chamomile tea. And speaking of skins; I miss the OLD boards, where we used to get different stuff for the holidays. Anyone else remember the My Neighbor Totoro layout?[/SIZE][/quote] [SIZE=1]If you have any, I find lavender very soothing when I'm overtired or unable to sleep. Also yes, I do miss some of the old holiday skins.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=1]I imagine I'll probably spend it with my parents, siblings and whatever relatives turn up to our house that evening as is the usual tradition with cards, music and alcohol being the entertainment to ring in the new decade.[/SIZE]

[quote name='Ace'][FONT=Comic Sans MS]As a sidenote, screw this series [B]One Piece[/B] is better.[/FONT][/quote] [SIZE=1] Having lost the will to continue a hundred and twenty something chapters in after the same formula of plot regurgitation of gather crew-member beat villain seemed in full effect I must respectfully disagree my friend.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=1]I thought you'd given up reading Naruto Ace ? :P[/SIZE]

[quote name='Allamorph'][FONT=Calibri]Speaking of your sig, [COLOR=DarkRed]CHW[/COLOR], I'm pretty sure that the necrophilia came before the necromancy, at least from the spoilers I've read. :p[/FONT][/quote] [SIZE=1]Given necromancy refers to control over the dead the way he follows her around seems like she's got him leashed pretty well. That said you I agree necrophilia would be the more correct term involving intimacy.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=1][url=http://failblog.org/2009/12/22/contestant-fail-2/][B]This person's[/B][/url] stupidity is actually physically painful for me to watch.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=1]Well I just finished the last episode and much to my chagrin I realised we had no thread on OB to discuss this series of Darker than Black. Obviously as the series has finished I suppose a spoiler warning will be in effect throughout just to warn people before they dive in here. I have to admit the biggest surprise for me was realising episode 12 was actually the final episode :animeswea, although that's probably my own fault for not keeping track of how long the series was going to be and I had assumed it was to be the same length as Kuro no Keiyakusha. I suppose now it's going to be another two years before we get the third season of Darker than Black which will probably tie up even fewer questions from the previous two series. Overall I have to admit I really enjoyed Ryuusei, starting out I was a tad worried that everything had effectively been dropped from the previous series and we were going to end up focusing on a completely different Contractor. True Suou and her journey were the main story but I never felt Hei was out of the picture or underused in the series, although the ending did leave us wondering yet again what's to happen between himself and Yin. July was a nice touch to the series as well, similar but not the same as Yin in the previous series, his evolution tied well into Suou's. Anyone else's thoughts/opinions ? [/SIZE]

[SIZE=1][INDENT]My plots and vendettas reduced to mere rhyme? Machinations so perfect, they border sublime. Christmas is over, so I believe it is fit To roar "Back to work you simpering twit!"[/INDENT][/SIZE]

[SIZE=1]I suppose I should've mentioned the contract does not require me to inform my employees they have the day off.[/SIZE]

[quote name='Rachmaninoff'][FONT=Trebuchet MS]Oh right, tis the season of false hope and all that jazz. I forgot. My bad.[/FONT][/quote] [SIZE=1] No, no. I'm the one who transformed it into a season of mindless, soulless consumerism in order to make giving my minions the day off slightly less nauseating. The false hope, alcoholism and misery were actually just pleasantly surprising side-effects and the best part is that those souls are mine to collect/torture/trade/consume rather than his. Also I find this comparison very apt. [/SIZE][CENTER][SIZE=1][IMG]http://totallylookslike.files.wordpress.com/2009/12/zombie-horde-totally-looks-like-twlight-fangirl-horde.jpg[/IMG][/SIZE] [/CENTER]

[quote name='Rachmaninoff'][FONT=Trebuchet MS]You're seriously slipping in your old age, if you actually let them have Christmas Day off. Tsk, Tsk, Tsk. Won't be long before Ace stabs you i[SIZE=2]n the back and [/SIZE][SIZE=1][SIZE=2]takes over[/SIZE]. :p[/SIZE][/FONT][SIZE=1][/quote] Contractual agreement. The Devil has a twisted sense of humour.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=1]Although it'll sound distinctly un-Christmas-y I'm actually not a big present person any more. Unless I specifically mention something I'd like I've asked my parents/siblings to just give money/general gift vouchers instead so I can get stuff I actually want during the after Christmas sales. My parents and sister can't seem to understand this mentality to I did end up with a few pressies wrapped up under the tree this year. Anyway on with the obligatory list: [/SIZE][LIST] [*][SIZE=1]Cash, obviously, have yet to count it all up but I think it's somewhere in the region of ?170.[/SIZE] [*][SIZE=1]Several gift vouchers, again as expected. [/SIZE] [*][SIZE=1]Assassin's Creed 2 for my 360 (which I had rented this week)[/SIZE] [*][SIZE=1]Dan Brown's latest novel, I'm expecting tripe but I'm curious to see how the series progresses.[/SIZE] [*][SIZE=1]New woollen hat, scarf and gloves from my sister which were handy seeing as I lost my previous set of gloves at home.[/SIZE] [*][SIZE=1]Frankie Boyle (of Mock the Week) DVD from my bother[/SIZE] [*][SIZE=1]Obligatory aftershave combo. [/SIZE][/LIST][SIZE=1]Not a bad haul overall. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=1]I shall simply do what I did last time and barter several innocent souls in return for rejuvenation. Of course if Ace has any potential at all he'll replace me before then, though I doubt him capable of such a feat. Personally I don't want to live past the point where I'm capable of looking after myself in my own home, at least relatively speaking. If I did end up in a nursing home, I'd probably be that old guy attempting to maintain a jovial outlook on life and divvying out little pieces of advice to the young'uns but also having days where I consider everyone around me an idiot and vitality is wasted on the young as much as wisdom is wasted on the old.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=1]*Obligatory festive cheer* Humbug Just be ready for toil tomorrow minions.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=1][B]Assassin's Creed 2[/B], rented it on Monday and was rather amused to find it wrapped under the tree from my parents this morning. Finished it a few hours ago after...40 something hours (addicted to exploring, hunting down treasure, races, assassinations, making money, in other words every sidequest available). Very enjoyable game overall and I have to admit I'm really rather hooked on the story so I think I'll have to rent the original game to see the story of Altair first hand.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=1]Ah strange, I'd read last week there was to be no chapter this week, maybe it's next week then. Oh well never mind. I do have to agree about the mid-battle explanation, I mean sure it's for our benefit, at least for those of us who can't work out subtly that Shinji's power was reversal and that Aizen would butcher him even with that power because Aizen has plotkai on his side. Still an interesting power in and of itself. I have to say I actually liked Tousen's end quite a lot (with the exception of his coup de grace at Aizen's hand which felt slightly forced), the last conversation proves that Kubo is a far better story writer than action writer although I'm sure some will dislike his death-bed repentance given his more recent sermons I thought it was apt and rather poignant. And then of course we're moving straight into Ichigo vs Aizen which will end with Aizen plotkai-ing yet another captain class fighter. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=1]You know for the first time in a long time one of Kishi's last page reveals actually has me going "Oh cool, I'm looking forward to the next chapter". Perhaps it's just because it's Itachi, or perhaps it's because Sauce and Dan Elephant are throwing around hax jutsu but the sudden return of the original (and only) badass Uchiha has me rather excited.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=1]Hey JJ, long time no see. Welcome back my friend, the Theatre could certain use some of the Old Guard's touch.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=1]I just remembered there's no chapter this week. :animesigh[/SIZE]

[SIZE=1]I wouldn't mind Jedi-style telekinesis and telepathy, although really one would want the whole Force-imbued package but it goes a bit beyond superpower I suppose.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=1]As I said already, I'm looking forward to it.[/SIZE]