| Let's see. |
[24 Nov 2003|07:50pm] |
I took this from "zsyed" and "morrigangrrl" on LiveJournal. I've turned on anonymous commenting and turned off IP logging for this one post. So:
"Post anything that you want, and post it anonymously. Anything. A story, a secret, a confession, a fear, a love - anything. Be sure to post anonymously and honestly. Post more than once, if you'd like. Then, put this in your Blurty to see what your friends (and perhaps others who you don't even realise read your Blurty) have to say."
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| Rad little meme. |
[24 Nov 2003|01:29pm] |
And France sucks.
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| Ugh. |
[22 Nov 2003|09:16pm] |
I will never understand the cuisine of the British Isles.
E dared me to try it. It tasted like shoe leather with a nail through it. And this flavorless concoction is highly representative of the food available here.
I never thought I'd say it, but I miss Shaw's.
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| w00t. |
[22 Nov 2003|06:18pm] |
| [ |
mood |
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 hungry |
] |
| [ |
music |
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Michiko Naruke - Advanced Wind.1 |
] |
I direct you to the high scores, and ask you to note that I've now got over 2000 points. I pwnz0r.
Of course, my totals are nothing compared to Shaun's, but anyway...
Oh, and chapter 5 of my KeiShin fic should be up fairly soon, for those who have been following along. I'm just editing and adding and such.
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| Recent Events. |
[21 Nov 2003|04:36pm] |
As in, within the last 12 hours.
1. Last night, as I was walking home at 3:30 in the morning, I was crossing the bridge over the Liffey by the Custom House. The streets were essentially deserted. I saw a young man take a running start and fling himself into the river, about twenty or so feet below. The Liffey is not a terribly fast river, being tidal and at low-tide at that point, but it was cold, and the river has a nasty undertow. I rushed over to see if he was okay, and he didn't respond when I called out to him, but he was clinging to a support pillar on the bridge. I hurried to the Gardai station near Busaras (thankfully, I know the area quite well), and reported what I'd seen. I checked with them, this morning, and they said they'd fished him out and taken him to the hospital for hypothermia. He was released this morning, but that he had been on the edge of unconsciousness when they got to him, and might've been sucked out to sea otherwise.
...I never thought I'd be in a position to help someone out like that.
2. Less important, but still quite nice, is the fact that I finally have access to the web from my room. For some reason, Blurty is loading slowly and weirdly, but I've got the sneaking suspicion that that is a site issue or a transmission issue, since it's happened about three or four times in the last week or so, and none have been from this computer or this location (obviously). I can't access AIM or IRC, so I'll have to start bitching about that. Still, it IS nice to be able to use my own computer to get online, even if I can't do all the things I want.
3. I took out a check today to pay for half of the tickets for E to come and see me in March! Aer Lingus is offering a super-low rate on flights from Boston, and I'm gonna have her come see me, regardless of how much it costs me. :-D
If Blurty keeps messing up, I'll probably use LJ for a while. My handle there is "padraiceen".
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| Boring Medieval History Update! |
[20 Nov 2003|04:30pm] |
The beginning of my dissertation is coming into focus.
The first chapter is likely going to be an analysis of the accepted elements of a feudal state: submission, military service, a system of rewards, dependent tenure (or appropriate allodial arrangements), contracts, and a pyramidal structure. The Irish had a particular system that was not exactly feudalism, but which resembled it quite strongly. A discussion of how the system worked will be the primary discussion of the paper, and will be pursued at length later. This chapter will merely seek to make the case that these elements are representative of a state run in a feudal style.
The second chapter is going to discuss terminology. Since "feudalism" describes a system based almost purely on dependent land tenure, and the sense in Ireland was not that the lord ruled his petty kingdom at the whim of the overlord, but gave his alliance freely (and was therefore more allodial in nature), it can't be used to describe the situation in Ireland in the eleventh and twelfth centuries, as it oversimplifies it too much. Rather, the Irish term oglachas, meaning a vassalage arrangement freely entered into by both parties, seems to apply. I'm at a bit of a loss in finding a good English term for it, so I may use oglachas , or I may form an agglutinative word like "pseudofeudalism" or "hibernofeudalism". They're a little clunky, but they are a little easier to pronounce.
After that, I think I'm going to spend a few chapters discussing contemporary feudalism in the eleventh and twelfth centuries. Whee!
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| Fanfiction.net is funny. |
[19 Nov 2003|05:01pm] |
Namely, E wrote a small fic that was, as she explicitly stated, a one-shot. The vast majority of her ten reviews on that fic ask whether or not she's going to write any more. It makes me want to laugh and cry at the same time.
I've got two chapters up now, and I've edited chapter 3. I'll upload the next couple of chapters, and post them in the next few days. I don't want to put the entire fic up all at once: that'd be a little rushed.
I want Tactics Ogre, but they don't sell it in Europe. Woe is me. However, I did finally beat Advance Wars 2 last night, with a big old fuck-you to the so-called "walkthrough" I'd consulted for the last couple of missions.
Also, Sturm can bite my shiny metal ass. The end.
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| Bleh. |
[15 Nov 2003|04:40pm] |
My last version of this post got eaten, so I'll summarize.
Mutsumi's dub voice = not as bad as I'd thought. Naru's dub voice = grating. As in, it makes me want to use a grater on myself.
If I were to write a letter to the people who script and act and produce dubs, it would say this:
"Dear Dub People,
Why do you assume that we, as Westerners, will be unable to pronounce the not-very-complex Japanese names of characters? Why do you change the pronounciation for our version? I honestly don't have a problem with pronouncing the name "Na-ru-se-GA-wa", but I do have a problem pronouncing it "Na-ru-SE-guh-wuh", as your dub would have me do. Why is that? Because it makes me sound like an uncultured bumpkin, that's why.
In closing, please hire some better voice actors, and shoot all current staff. Thanks!
Love,
Me."
Finally, I've written about another 2000 words on my Shinobu fic, but it's not a NaNoWriMo thing, because I started it back in January. I'm just really bad at writing fics quickly. :-P
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| Argh, get it right! |
[14 Nov 2003|05:50pm] |
My computer's back!!! Yaaaaaay!
...but while Apple did fix the crack and my DVD drive, they forgot to check one little thing that I said was the cause of a lot of this.
The screw that went missing caused all the problems, last time. They put in a new bottom case, complete with all the screws, but I saw that the one in the back left (the one that had fallen out last time) was a little loose, so I tried to tighten it. Thirteen or fourteen turns later, it was just as loose as it had been before. My conclusion: the anchor point for the screw inside my computer might be stripped out or something. So, I have a piece of tape over it, and I'm going to baby the hell out of my compy until I make it back to the States, whereupon I'll send the compy in and get it back, hopefully all better. It's not a big problem, as long as I take extra pains to keep my compy in good shape, but it does lend some weight to my "I didn't drop it!" argument.
So, the first order of business was to import my rad WA3 soundtrack. Unfortunately, since I'm not online, I don't get immediate track titles, so I'll have to go hunting for the English equivalents. "Wild Bunch" sticks in my head and makes me happy.
Next, Love Hina disc 2. Let me just say...
Mutsumi's dub voice makes me wish I had no eardrums. And Seta's dub voice makes me wish I had no ears at all. I don't think I'll be watching the dub except to laugh at it. Also, the innuendo in episode 8 surprised me, because the fansubbers had completely missed it. Ah, Japanese phallic symbolism, you kill me every time.
Now I get to find out why my internet doesn't work. Blah on the NCI. I'll be back in the USA and online at my dad's house before I get access here, I bet. Yet another reason to try different housing arrangements next year.
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| Stolen from lucasarcher on LJ. |
[13 Nov 2003|03:42pm] |
A - Act your age - 24
B - Breast size - Leave my man-boobies alone.
C - Chore you hate - Washing dishes.
D - Dad's name - Richard.
E - Essential make up item - How about no.
F - Favorite actor - Anthony Hopkins.
G - Gold or silver - Silver or platinum.
H - Hometown - Sharon, MA.
I - Instruments you play - Piano, and I tried the bagpipes.
J - Job title - Unemployed Student.
K - Kids - 0.
L - Living arrangements - Single room in a 6-bedroom apartment.
M - Mom's name - Denise.
N - Number of people you've slept with - 1.
O - Overnight hospital stays - Not since I was 4.
P - Phobia - Bees.
Q - Quote you like - "It ain't braggin' if you can do it." - Dizzy Dean. Also, "Something's sure going to happen." - Tom Servo/Kevin Murphy.
R - Religious affiliation - Catholic.
S - Siblings - Younger brother.
T - Time you wake up - Awake? Why? Meh, I don't have classes until Really Late, so usually around 10.
U - Unique habit - I don't really have any habits I haven't seen elsewhere.
V - Vegetable you refuse to eat - Lima beans.
W - Worst habit - Laziness, indeed.
X - X-rays you've had - Teeth, knee, hand, ankle.
Y - Yummy food you make - You name it, I can make it. My cheesecake is the best you've ever had.
Z - Zodiac Sign - Libra.
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| To break up the constant bad-news posts... |
[13 Nov 2003|01:53pm] |
Here's a meme.
1. How did you first find my journal?
2. Why did you originally decide to friend me?
3. What's your favorite part of my journal?
4. What's your least favourite part of my journal?
5. Ask me a question. Be as random as you want.
6. Recommend a band to me. I'm curious what you think I should be listening to.
Copy and answer in comments, and then add it to your own journal. :-D
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| The Customs Saga, Pt. II |
[12 Nov 2003|04:09pm] |
Apple has faxed everything they have on me to the woman at FedEx, who is going to give it to the customs person tomorrow morning. With any luck, I'll have my compy soon. I hope. Argh.
I know people from PvP read my Blurty, sometimes, especially one who is very close to the person in question. However, I can't really find it in my heart to be sympathetic over Koto's banning. He really did have it coming, and while it's admirable that he has strength of character, he has to have discovered that it does not work well in interpersonal dealings. What you do at this point is your own choice, Lally, and if you choose to leave, it will be unfortunate and will make many people quite unhappy.
Anyhow, the good news today is that I've finished two of my thesis-related books, and when I get my compy back, I can start writing. I love medieval politics.
Also, the farmer's market had a stall devoted entirely to artisanal Irish cheeses. I bought three different types: a Wicklow Blue (light and creamy, but nicely sharp), a smoked cheese whose name I cannot recall, but which compares very favorably to Comte, and an unnamed cheese from Kilkenny, which was one of the smoothest cheeses I've ever had. Delicious. I also got some fresh yoghurt, some pepper jelly, fresh vegetables, and some good bread. I love Wednesdays.
If the fudge guy is back next week, I'm going to get E a whole box of mint-chocolate fudge. :-D
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| Yet more bad news. |
[11 Nov 2003|05:42pm] |
God dammit.
My computer is in Ireland, or will be soon, but I can't get it, because they want a copy of my warranty (or some proof of that) so they can verify that it wasn't brought for import or some shit. So, after €15 of panicked calls to Apple Ireland and the lady handling this case at the customs office or FedEx or whereever, Apple agreed to send information to the woman, and she'll give the data to the customs people, etc. If they don't accept it, I have two choices. Pay the asinine 21% VAT on my $3400 computer, or get an official copy of the invoice for my warranty from Apple in the US.
If I'm *lucky*, I'll have my computer by the end of the week.
Somebody shoot me. Please.
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| Why are all my posts... |
[10 Nov 2003|05:56pm] |
"Good News and Bad News" posts, lately? O_o
Good - E's stuff got here ALREADY! That was incredibly fast. She sent me my Love Hina disc, my Wild Arms 3 soundtrack, two boxes of Mac and Cheese (that orange chemical is addictive), and a Shinobu pin! She also sent me the nicest, sweetest card I've ever gotten in my life, so thank you, E. :-) That made it a much better birthday experience. :-D
Bad - However, and there's always a however, my computer was sitting in Randolph, MA, until today, because my dad didn't fill out one of the forms, even though the driver said that there wasn't anything else to fill out. I should have it by tomorrow or Wednesday.
Good - The Wild Arms 3 sountrack is better than I had imagined, and it's officially my favorite yet.
Bad - I can't find a computer that will let me online while I listen to music. I have yet to find a single computer in this blasted island that will let me do the things I want without forking over money.
Good - I now have presents for my dad and Stacy, his wife.
Bad - I have no idea what to get anyone else, except E, who has made her wishes for toe socks very clear.
Good - I've finally gotten somewhere in Advance Wars 2.
Bad - Two battles, and then I got my ass handed to me again. Argh.
Anyhow. I'm attention-starved. Leave notes!
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| So... |
[07 Nov 2003|04:15pm] |
I found a compy that would let me on AIM - good.
Said compy won't let me on Blurty - bad.
There's something just Not Right with the information technology in this country. :-P
I spent a good deal of my time last night reading mediocre bad Love Hina fanfiction. I'm sure no one will believe me, but my Hinafic IS almost done, and will be posted as soon as I have access to the network. I have decided, however, that I need to write more than one fic: there's too many unexamined angles in the fics I've read that I think should be addressed.
And yes, I will likely depart from canon at some point, if only because I dislike the canonical outcome. :-D
Oh, and E, thank you so much for sending my stuff. I love you. :-)
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| Yo! |
[06 Nov 2003|03:57pm] |
Still recovering from Matrix Revolutions. I still say it pwned.
It appears that I made quite an impression on Donnchada O Corrain when I met him, since he has apparently contacted my department asking about my previous work, etc. This is a Good Thing. :-D
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good