Mcguffin Night 2006.
...and on the 28th day of January in the year 2006 CE, the champion was revealed to us. Showing exemplary skill and mental agility, though lacking in luck, the Mystery Girl emerged as the highest embodiment of all that makes a hero that the group has to offer.
I've been hailing the Great God Mcguffin with this ceremony on the last Saturday of January for several years now and given the gentle mocking that His high priest received tonight (on account of the ceremony not being the same any two years in a row) I thought that it was time that some of Mcguffin's tenets were codified for His greater glory this night.
The Four Facets of Mcguffinism are:
1: Wits
2: Skill
3: Luck
4: Making Things Up As You Go Along
If you an arrange these together in your life in an appropriate mix then your story will be legendary.
I'll add more to the Mcguffin Codex as He reveals His will to me. I need sleep, now.
Blogging on and off since January 2004.
Sunday, January 29, 2006
Wednesday, January 18, 2006
Parents...and the passing of the years...
I'm not a very inquisitive hobbit. I don't ask questions about other people's lives very much. I take what is said as what is needed to be said and leave it at that. For example, I shared a flat with Laid Back Guy for about 4 years and I knew him for at least 4 before that but it was only comparitively recently that I learned that his mother was dead. He never spoke about her, directly or in passing, and I left it at that. If I needed to know, I would have been told.
The same has been true of my parent's ages. If I needed to know, I would have been told. My parents were there, part of the fixtures and fittings, so to speak. I couldn't imagine a time before them or after them. They are as permanent as the mountains.
It was my mother's 70th birthday today and I didn't know. I knew that today was her birthday, but I didn't know which one. It didn't really matter. Mum'll have a birthday this year, next year and in ten years time and so on. I suppose that if her age wasn't defined then she couldn't get any older. So when my sister told me that today was her 70th I was shocked. Not only because I'd missed a landmark birthday but because 70 is old. I can't imagine mum being old. It doesn't fit my image of her. I see her about on average twice a year and don't notice any real change, maybe her hair is a bit whiter, but that's all. I speak to her regularly and get updates on how my aunts and uncles are doing, mainly her older brothers and sisters and what age related illness the have but nothing about herself, so I assume no problems. Maybe I should ask.
As for my father, I learned his date of birth last year when I took it into my head to get him a birthdate paper for his birthday. Same story. The man's unstoppable, so long as he doesn't put his back out. He drives tens of tousands of mile a year all over Ireland making slighly dodgy deals. I've seldom seen him happier than when I saw him at Christmas, a bit greyer but still with more hair than me. When my birthday comes around at the end of the month I'll be half his age, 32, and I wish I had half his energy.
But now their ages are fixed. Each year is now n+1 and I now know their days are quite literally numbered. I feel like I'm living in a house that is on a cliff that's being undercut by the sea. I have to put up with it but I don't like it. I can't imagine the landscape without that house but I now know that the sea is going to calim it eventually.
Blogging on and off since January 2004.
The same has been true of my parent's ages. If I needed to know, I would have been told. My parents were there, part of the fixtures and fittings, so to speak. I couldn't imagine a time before them or after them. They are as permanent as the mountains.
It was my mother's 70th birthday today and I didn't know. I knew that today was her birthday, but I didn't know which one. It didn't really matter. Mum'll have a birthday this year, next year and in ten years time and so on. I suppose that if her age wasn't defined then she couldn't get any older. So when my sister told me that today was her 70th I was shocked. Not only because I'd missed a landmark birthday but because 70 is old. I can't imagine mum being old. It doesn't fit my image of her. I see her about on average twice a year and don't notice any real change, maybe her hair is a bit whiter, but that's all. I speak to her regularly and get updates on how my aunts and uncles are doing, mainly her older brothers and sisters and what age related illness the have but nothing about herself, so I assume no problems. Maybe I should ask.
As for my father, I learned his date of birth last year when I took it into my head to get him a birthdate paper for his birthday. Same story. The man's unstoppable, so long as he doesn't put his back out. He drives tens of tousands of mile a year all over Ireland making slighly dodgy deals. I've seldom seen him happier than when I saw him at Christmas, a bit greyer but still with more hair than me. When my birthday comes around at the end of the month I'll be half his age, 32, and I wish I had half his energy.
But now their ages are fixed. Each year is now n+1 and I now know their days are quite literally numbered. I feel like I'm living in a house that is on a cliff that's being undercut by the sea. I have to put up with it but I don't like it. I can't imagine the landscape without that house but I now know that the sea is going to calim it eventually.
Blogging on and off since January 2004.
Friday, January 06, 2006
News to me...
Your Social Dysfunction: Happy You're a happy person - you have a good amount of self-esteem, and are socially healthy. While this isn't a social dysfunction per se, you're definitely not normal. Consider yourself lucky: you walk that fine line between 'normal' and being outright narcissistic. You're rare - which is something else to be happy about. | ||||
| ||||
Take this quiz at QuizGalaxy.com Please note that we aren't, nor do we claim to be, psychologists. This quiz is for fun and entertainment only. Try not to freak out about your results. |
Blogging on and off since January 2004.
Wednesday, January 04, 2006
A Sordid meme...
Four jobs you've had in your life:
Jobs? Oh, yeah, jobs...
1:IT manager at Newry Youth Info Centre. This was back in the dark year of 1993-4 when I'd flunked Uni. The idea was I'd operate the two apple macs in the office and do odd jobs. It was quite pleasant, really. I had to compile a database of addresses and contact all points between BNFL and Amnesty International. The center was attatched to the Magnet, a glorified youth club thingie. The people running it were great craic. I nearly got some music knowledge.
2:Maker of granite sets for Stonebase Ltd. We took big lumps of Mourne granite and turned it into five inch cubes for driveways and things. Dull. Summer job.
3:Minion of Mecca. Christ, what a job. Paid very little for doing slightly less with some of the dregs of society. And I put up with it for seven and a half years???
4:Government Agency Man. I'm here to help. So long as you phone in. I'm now a phone jockey for the revenue. It pays more than the Mecca and has prospects. Nice.
Four movies you could watch over and over:
I've watched a few and some of them have even had a small effect on my life...
1:Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars ......
2:The Producers. The original screen version is amazing. I laugh all the way through every time. Just the notion of Springtime for Hitler is great.
3:L.A. Story.Whimsicality 'pon whimsicality! I want to be just like Harris when I grow up. If only I could meet a nice motorway sign like that. Sometimes I see a lot of myself in Harris so maybe this film is just a bit narcissistic.
4:Casablanca. Nazis, romance, angst, shady fat men and all shot in a film noir style. Can't say fairer than that.
Four places you've lived:
I've been about a bit, but not all that much...
1:Poyntzpass. I spent my formative years growing up in this small village. Crossroads, railway platform, canal and three pubs. I loved it. One of the pubs belonged to my father and was a great place for a kid to grow up.
2:Rostrevor. It's a lot more interesting than Wikipedia makes out. If nothing else, it's also responsible for Deviant Boy. If you get the chance, go there, the whole Carlingford region is naturally stunning.
3:Jonesborough. It's a lot less interesting than the website makes out. It's main claim to fame is that the North/South border is literally a stone's throw away. Handy if you've got to run from the security services... There's always the Jonesborough Market, I suppose. Illict gear here.
4:Dundee. As cities go, it's not too bad. Not too big/small, noisy/quiet etc. Lacks a decent 2nd hand book shop.
Four TV shows you love to watch:
I used to watch a lot, now I just snatch the necessary...
1:Doctor Who. Like Sordid, I can't imagine life without it. It's part of me, now. It forms some of my earliest memories, such as Dr Who and the Jellyfish (The Horror of Fang Rock) and Dr Who and the Worms (Image of the Fendahl). I was only 3. I think waiting for Fang Rock is my earlist memory.
2:Scrapheap Challenge. Big machines, engines, badly bodged bangers and brilliant boats. Nuff said.
3:Sharpe. It's not a patch on the books but it has a repeat viewing quality.
4:Bugs Bunny.Not designed for the TV but it's now the medium he's been associated with. Few things can cause me to drop everything as fast as an original Bugs cartoon. I also include in this category any Warner Bros cartoon between 1941 to 1970 and any WB cartoon post Tiny Toons including Animaniacs. There is also a lot to be said for Hanna Barberra cartoons from Tom and Jerry onwards, although they also produced a lot of dross. Please do not enjoy, however, any Chuck Jones Tom and Jerry. He may have understood the Road Runner, he didn't understand T&J.
Four places you've been on holiday:
Like Stu, I've not had a passport for the preceding 32 yrs but...
1:Rathlin Island.. Not a lot to do if you're 7 yrs old but fascinating to look back on and ask, "Why didn't I like that Holiday?". The Lighthouses are a must.
2:Bantry. If you want sunburn in Eire, this is the place for you. I still put this location down to the reason why I still wear jackets in the summer and it was over 25 yrs ago.
3:Mount Stewart. I was on holiday when I visited. Does that count? The finest National Trust site I've ever visited, and I've visited a few.
4:Sligo. Wet and majestic. God's Rock Garden.
Four websites you visit daily:
Daily websites....Hmm....
1:Nation States. I may get my nation's income tax below 60% some day...
2:DURPS Forum. Where all the loonies hang out...
3:BBC7. Hancock to Cybermen. 'Nuff said...
4:SixFoot Hobbit. It's my home page. Those links along the left hand side are handy...
Four of your favourite foods:
MMMMmmmmmmmmm....Food....
1: Breakfast...
2:Lunch...
3:Dinner...
4:Supper...
Do I come accross as a fat bastard? Good.
Four places you'd rather be:
1:Gallifrey...
2:Coruscant
3:Middle Earth
4:Somewhere warmer than Dundee...
Four albums you can't live without:
That's a music question, pass...
Blogging on and off since January 2004.
Jobs? Oh, yeah, jobs...
1:IT manager at Newry Youth Info Centre. This was back in the dark year of 1993-4 when I'd flunked Uni. The idea was I'd operate the two apple macs in the office and do odd jobs. It was quite pleasant, really. I had to compile a database of addresses and contact all points between BNFL and Amnesty International. The center was attatched to the Magnet, a glorified youth club thingie. The people running it were great craic. I nearly got some music knowledge.
2:Maker of granite sets for Stonebase Ltd. We took big lumps of Mourne granite and turned it into five inch cubes for driveways and things. Dull. Summer job.
3:Minion of Mecca. Christ, what a job. Paid very little for doing slightly less with some of the dregs of society. And I put up with it for seven and a half years???
4:Government Agency Man. I'm here to help. So long as you phone in. I'm now a phone jockey for the revenue. It pays more than the Mecca and has prospects. Nice.
Four movies you could watch over and over:
I've watched a few and some of them have even had a small effect on my life...
1:Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars ......
2:The Producers. The original screen version is amazing. I laugh all the way through every time. Just the notion of Springtime for Hitler is great.
3:L.A. Story.Whimsicality 'pon whimsicality! I want to be just like Harris when I grow up. If only I could meet a nice motorway sign like that. Sometimes I see a lot of myself in Harris so maybe this film is just a bit narcissistic.
4:Casablanca. Nazis, romance, angst, shady fat men and all shot in a film noir style. Can't say fairer than that.
Four places you've lived:
I've been about a bit, but not all that much...
1:Poyntzpass. I spent my formative years growing up in this small village. Crossroads, railway platform, canal and three pubs. I loved it. One of the pubs belonged to my father and was a great place for a kid to grow up.
2:Rostrevor. It's a lot more interesting than Wikipedia makes out. If nothing else, it's also responsible for Deviant Boy. If you get the chance, go there, the whole Carlingford region is naturally stunning.
3:Jonesborough. It's a lot less interesting than the website makes out. It's main claim to fame is that the North/South border is literally a stone's throw away. Handy if you've got to run from the security services... There's always the Jonesborough Market, I suppose. Illict gear here.
4:Dundee. As cities go, it's not too bad. Not too big/small, noisy/quiet etc. Lacks a decent 2nd hand book shop.
Four TV shows you love to watch:
I used to watch a lot, now I just snatch the necessary...
1:Doctor Who. Like Sordid, I can't imagine life without it. It's part of me, now. It forms some of my earliest memories, such as Dr Who and the Jellyfish (The Horror of Fang Rock) and Dr Who and the Worms (Image of the Fendahl). I was only 3. I think waiting for Fang Rock is my earlist memory.
2:Scrapheap Challenge. Big machines, engines, badly bodged bangers and brilliant boats. Nuff said.
3:Sharpe. It's not a patch on the books but it has a repeat viewing quality.
4:Bugs Bunny.Not designed for the TV but it's now the medium he's been associated with. Few things can cause me to drop everything as fast as an original Bugs cartoon. I also include in this category any Warner Bros cartoon between 1941 to 1970 and any WB cartoon post Tiny Toons including Animaniacs. There is also a lot to be said for Hanna Barberra cartoons from Tom and Jerry onwards, although they also produced a lot of dross. Please do not enjoy, however, any Chuck Jones Tom and Jerry. He may have understood the Road Runner, he didn't understand T&J.
Four places you've been on holiday:
Like Stu, I've not had a passport for the preceding 32 yrs but...
1:Rathlin Island.. Not a lot to do if you're 7 yrs old but fascinating to look back on and ask, "Why didn't I like that Holiday?". The Lighthouses are a must.
2:Bantry. If you want sunburn in Eire, this is the place for you. I still put this location down to the reason why I still wear jackets in the summer and it was over 25 yrs ago.
3:Mount Stewart. I was on holiday when I visited. Does that count? The finest National Trust site I've ever visited, and I've visited a few.
4:Sligo. Wet and majestic. God's Rock Garden.
Four websites you visit daily:
Daily websites....Hmm....
1:Nation States. I may get my nation's income tax below 60% some day...
2:DURPS Forum. Where all the loonies hang out...
3:BBC7. Hancock to Cybermen. 'Nuff said...
4:SixFoot Hobbit. It's my home page. Those links along the left hand side are handy...
Four of your favourite foods:
MMMMmmmmmmmmm....Food....
1: Breakfast...
2:Lunch...
3:Dinner...
4:Supper...
Do I come accross as a fat bastard? Good.
Four places you'd rather be:
1:Gallifrey...
2:Coruscant
3:Middle Earth
4:Somewhere warmer than Dundee...
Four albums you can't live without:
That's a music question, pass...
Blogging on and off since January 2004.
Sunday, January 01, 2006
It's 4:00pm and I'm a bit hungover...
So, it's January the first, two thousand and six. Whoot.
Two thousand and five wasn't a bad year all in all, new flat, new job and new.... Well that was it, really. No major overall change in life, just a slight upgrade in the amount of junk I can buy. However, it's a start. A firm foundation that can be built on. Must make concerted effort to get that life thing this year. All the bits are there, I just need to assemble it into something recognisable. Insert aspiration A into job slot B to get to upgraded lifestyle C. Use freshly assembled lifestyle to acquire MOS and gain life D. Or somesuch. I think the drinking until 7:00am hasn't done much for my writing. I'll take this thread up later.
Blogging on and off since January 2004.
Two thousand and five wasn't a bad year all in all, new flat, new job and new.... Well that was it, really. No major overall change in life, just a slight upgrade in the amount of junk I can buy. However, it's a start. A firm foundation that can be built on. Must make concerted effort to get that life thing this year. All the bits are there, I just need to assemble it into something recognisable. Insert aspiration A into job slot B to get to upgraded lifestyle C. Use freshly assembled lifestyle to acquire MOS and gain life D. Or somesuch. I think the drinking until 7:00am hasn't done much for my writing. I'll take this thread up later.
Blogging on and off since January 2004.
Monday, December 26, 2005
I'm glad I'm not A+...
Starting Christmas Day with a hangover is never a good start (curiously, starting New Year's Day is...) The traditional winterfest orgy of gift giving and feasting is now closed in here in the shadow of Cloughogue Mountain (Clog, to the uneducated). Lootwise this year I've done not badly, new coat, £25 in Waterstone's vouchers and an RC Plane. Nice. The Munchkin was very pleased (read: ecstatic) with the corset from 'Muffin. Better than advertised. Use the link, that's what it's there for. I can't wait to see the coat I commissioned from her, now. All in all a very satisfactory day. Everyone loved my gifts and that's what matters to me 'coz I love giving the stuff away.
It wasn't until after 1:00am and after my father had finished giving me a crash course in the art of Irish Coffee making (2 in thecoursee of 10 minutes, he doesn't like 'em) that I got on to the main audio visual entertainment of the day. Not a new DVD or CD, not the Christmas Day main feature on the terrestrial channels, not the Queen's speech but that little known British Sci-Fi show, Doctor Who. I loved it! More power to David Tennant, just the right amount! Why can't I live in this UK? How do I get to vote for Harriet Jones? I have to wait until the Spring for more? Unfair!
Blogging on and off since January 2004.
It wasn't until after 1:00am and after my father had finished giving me a crash course in the art of Irish Coffee making (2 in thecoursee of 10 minutes, he doesn't like 'em) that I got on to the main audio visual entertainment of the day. Not a new DVD or CD, not the Christmas Day main feature on the terrestrial channels, not the Queen's speech but that little known British Sci-Fi show, Doctor Who. I loved it! More power to David Tennant, just the right amount! Why can't I live in this UK? How do I get to vote for Harriet Jones? I have to wait until the Spring for more? Unfair!
Blogging on and off since January 2004.
Sunday, December 25, 2005
It's 02:20 am and I'm totally smashed...
You know, I'm beginning to think these titles are a bit repetitive...
It's been almost a month since my last post and it's now Christmas Eve/Day. Tonight has been the night of my annual drunken night out with my old school friend the Cryptic Commie. As is the habit with most of my friends, he spent most of the evening not catching up on the last year but berating me on my lack of significant other. I responded that as he's two months older than I that he should put his own house in order first, dodging the issue at every twist and turn.
Now, an hour, after I've left him I realize that I've opened myself to a charge of hypocrisy. For the last two or three months I've been berating Laid Back Guy to pursue an old flame that he encountered in Waterstones, Dundee. He ran into this old flame in my company and after we'd left he made an off hand remark, "Why didn't I, when I had the chance?" I haven't let it lie since. Oops.
To prove my timidity C.C. went on the pull to show how easy it was and within 5 minutes he had his new conquests 'phone number. Whoot. I pointed out to him that this wasn't the point and continued to argue it back and forth for the rest of the evening.
Blogging on and off since January 2004.
It's been almost a month since my last post and it's now Christmas Eve/Day. Tonight has been the night of my annual drunken night out with my old school friend the Cryptic Commie. As is the habit with most of my friends, he spent most of the evening not catching up on the last year but berating me on my lack of significant other. I responded that as he's two months older than I that he should put his own house in order first, dodging the issue at every twist and turn.
Now, an hour, after I've left him I realize that I've opened myself to a charge of hypocrisy. For the last two or three months I've been berating Laid Back Guy to pursue an old flame that he encountered in Waterstones, Dundee. He ran into this old flame in my company and after we'd left he made an off hand remark, "Why didn't I, when I had the chance?" I haven't let it lie since. Oops.
To prove my timidity C.C. went on the pull to show how easy it was and within 5 minutes he had his new conquests 'phone number. Whoot. I pointed out to him that this wasn't the point and continued to argue it back and forth for the rest of the evening.
Blogging on and off since January 2004.
Sunday, November 27, 2005
C'thullu Live 2005
This was the fourth of these almost annual events run by some very good friends of mine here in Dundee. This time, however, I was involved behind the scenes right from the word go with scenario construction and character development. I never before appreciated how much effort goes into one of these events. We spent approximately 8 weeks in preparation for the night choosing props, setting and reviewing and discarding set piece scenes that would cause maximum terror in our hapless victims. It was all worth it. There were screams aplenty from both the male and female players and I look forward to having another go at it in 2006.
Blogging on and off since January 2004.
Blogging on and off since January 2004.
Wednesday, November 23, 2005
More Tolkein Humour...
I was faffing about on the 'net (as you do) and I came accross this little gem that put me in mind of my fabled "Complete history of Sauron in under a minute" routine...
THE ENTIRE SILMARILLION OF J. R. R. TOLKIEN IN ONE THOUSAND WORDS.
AINULINDALE:
ILUVATAR: Ahem.
AINUR: Wow! Existence!
ILUVATAR: *blows pitch pipe* LA!
AINUR: LA LA LA!
ILUVATAR: LA LA!
AINUR: LA LA!
MELKOR: This sucks. BUM BUM BA DUM!
AINUR: Um. . . la?
ILUVATAR: Ahem. LA!
MELKOR: Boop bop-a-doo-bop!
ILUVATAR: LA, dammit.
MELKOR: Bwam bardle ningle boom.
AINUR: . . .
ILUVATAR: Right, you're out of the band.
MELKOR: Fine, I was leaving anyway.
AINUR: . . .
ILUVATAR: What are you waiting for?
AINUR: Oh. Right. Newly created world. Sorry. Great jam session, big guy!
ILUVATAR: Yeesh.
VALAQUENTA:
MANWE: I'm in charge!
VARDA: I'm Manwe's spouse. And queen of the stars!
NAMO: I do death and fate. They call me Mandos.
VAIRE: I'm Namo's spouse. I weave things.
IRMO: I have gardens. They call me Lorien.
ESTE: I'm Irmo's spouse. I take care of the gardens.
YAVANNA: I make things grow.
NIENNA: I'm sad.
ULMO: I live in the ocean.
AULE: I'm Yavanna's spouse. I've got a great big hammer! I made dwarves.
NESSA: I dance.
OROME: I hunt!
VANA: I'm Orome's spouse. I make living things happy.
TULKAS: I'm strong. I'm Nessa's spouse. I got here last.
MELKOR: I'm bad, momma, I'm ONE BAD MUTHA-
TULKAS: Grar.
MELKOR: Um. Yeah. Hiding now.
QUENTA SILMARILLION:
VALAR: Hey! Ilmaren! Party on the island, everyone!
MELKOR: Bah. Too bright. *builds fortress, kicks over lamps*
VALAR: AUGH! *flee to west*
MELKOR: Hu hu hu.
VALAR: Oooooh SHINY TREES! Yavanna made shiny trees!
YAVANNA: Yep! Aren't they pretty?
MELKOR: Want shiny.
VALAR: Nope.
MELKOR: Why not?
VALAR: Because you're a jerk.
ELVES: Oh hey, stars. Shiny!
MELKOR: Oh hey, breeding stock.
ELVES: AUGH!
UNGOLIANT: Want shiny.
MELKOR: Let's go get shiny.
FEANOR: I've made more shiny!
VALAR: Good, 'cos Melkor took ours. Can we have yours?
FEANOR: No! MY SHINIES! MINE!
VALAR: Aw, !&*()!@&)!(&.
MELKOR: Got the shinies!
UNGOLIANT: Not enough shiny. Want more shiny!
MELKOR: You can't have 'em.
UNGOLIANT: Grar.
MELKOR: Eeek! *runs*
FEANOR AND SONS: We're gettin' our shinies back. And YOU CAN'T HAVE 'EM, Valar!
MELKOR/MORGOTH: No you're not. *stabbity fiery burny death*
BEREN: Ooo! Pretty elf lady!
THINGOL: You can have her if you ... BRING ME A SHINY!
BEREN: Worth a shot.
LUTHIEN: La la la
MORGOTH: Ooo baby... *zzz*
BEREN: Got your shiny!
MORGOTH: you BASTARD! I stole those fair and square!
CARCHAROTH: Grar.
BEREN: Ow!
THINGOL: Got the shiny?
BEREN: 's in my hand.
THINGOL: And?
BEREN: Hand's not here.
THINGOL: Crap, I really wanted that shiny.
CARCHAROTH: GRAR!!!!
BEREN: *dies*
LUTHIEN: *dies* La la la.
MANDOS: ... oh all right.
LUTHIEN: *returns to life*
BEREN: *returns to life*
LUTHIEN: Beren! Look! The shiny! In a necklace!
FEANOR'S SONS: *mutter*
LUTHIEN: *dies again*
BEREN: *dies again*
DIOR: Oo, Mom's shiny!
FEANOR'S SONS: WANT SHINY!
DIOR: *dies*
ELWING: Eek! *grabs shiny, runs*
FEANOR'S SONS: !*&(!)&)*!.
EARENDIL: Hey. Nice shiny. Yo! Valar!
VALAR: Well FINALLY. *stomp stomp stomp*
EARENDIL: Wow, planetary orbit!
MORGOTH: Eek!
VALAR: Got your shinies!
MAGLOR AND MAEDHROS: You mean OUR shinies!
VALAR: Oh *!&(!&).
MAGLOR AND MAEDHROS: Ow! Burny shinies!
MAEDHROS: Fine. This sucks. *jumps into chasm*
MAGLOR: Um... not really looking forward to meeting Dad again... *chucks shiny into sea* Bye. *wanders off*
VALAR: Well... um... okay.
AKALLABETH:
VALAR: Thanks for helping with Morgoth, Edain! Have an island! Elros is in charge!
EDAIN: Cool!
VALAR: Don't come looking for us.
EDAIN: Okay.
ELVES OF TOL ERESSEA: Have our stuff!
NUMENOREANS: Neat! Ooo, Middle-Earth!
GIL-GALAD: Dudes. Good to see you.
NUMENOREANS: Yeah, same here. What's going on?
GIL-GALAD: War with Sauron mostly.
MEN OF MIDDLE-EARTH: Shiny tall wonderful wise sea-king dudes! Yay!
NUMENOREANS: Here, have some stuff and wisdom.
MEN OF MIDDLE-EARTH: <3 <3 <3
NUMENOREANS: Life is cool. Why do we have to die?
ELVES: You're human?
NUMENOREANS: Can the Valar fix that?
VALAR: No.
NUMENOREANS: That sucks. Go away.
ELVES: Fine.
ELENDILI: Hey! Over here! We still like you!
MEN OF MIDDLE-EARTH: Gosh, we're lonely.
NUMENOREANS: Whatever, give us your wealth and your children.
MEN OF MIDDLE-EARTH: Um, okay.
ELENDILI: This isn't gonna end well, is it?
ELVES: No.
TAR-PALANTIR: We're sorry?
GIMILKHAD: *I'm* not.
AR-PHARAZON: Thanks for the throne, dude.
TAR-MIRIEL: Hey!
AR-PHARAZON: Shaddap, woman. Sauron, j00 suxx0r! I 0wnz0r j00!
SAURON: Okay.
AR-PHARAZON: Make me immortal.
SAURON: Human sacrifice is good. Also burn that pesky white tree.
AR-PHARAZON: Um. . .
ISILDUR: Hey! White tree! Got your fruit!
SAURON: *makes chicken noises*
AR-PHARAZON: Fine. Tree burn! Fire pretty!
ELENDIL: Isildur, Anarion, get the boats.
AR-PHARAZON: I've got a huge navy! Let's go conquer Valinor!
VALAR: Oh no you don't. *CRASHBANGBOOM*
AR-PHARAZON & CO.: Eeek!
ELENDIL, ISILDUR, ANARION: Wheee!
NUMENOREANS: Arrgh!
NUMENOR: SPLOOSH.
SAURON: Bwa ha ha! Um, where's my body?
ILUVATAR: Did I mention the world is round now?
NUMENOREANS IN EXILE: Well, crap.
OF THE RINGS OF POWER AND THE THIRD AGE:
ELVES: Wonder what's going on over the ocean. This crafting deal is pretty sweet, though!
DWARVES: Yeah, seriously.
ANNATAR: Hi, elves! Wanna learn some cool stuff?
ELVES: Okay!
SAURON: They fell for it.
SEVEN DWARVES: Thanks for the rings! . . oooh, GOLD! MUST HAVE GOLD!
NINE MEN: Neat rings. . . Hey, didn't Mom die like six hundred years ago?
CELEBRIMBOR: Okay, how about we do three more and call it a wrap?
SAURON: How about I do one more and claim them ALL?
ELVES: AUGH!
SAURON: Bwa ha ha!
LAST ALLIANCE OF ELVES AND MEN: Push off.
SAURON: Make me.
ISILDUR: Whack.
SAURON: Ow.
ELROND: Hey, you got his ring. Let's ditch it.
ISILDUR: No.
ELROND: This sucks.
ISILDUR: Tell me about it. *dies*
GONDORIANS: *change calendar*
CIRDAN: Hi, wizards! You in the grey, catch!
SAURON: Okay, that's long enough. Movin' into Dol Guldur.
SARUMAN: It's not him. Also the ring's lost at sea.
RING: No I'm not.
THE WISE: Augh.
THE WEAK: Bad ring! Volcano for you!
RING: *melts*
SAURON: AUGH!
MORDOR: BOOM.
GONDORIANS: *change calendar*
ELROND, GALADRIEL: Road trip!
GANDALF: Hi Cirdan! Still got your ring!
CIRDAN: Cool. Let's go to Valinor!
Decided after I read this that I wished to emulate Bookwoman and Slacker in doing a spot of writing. Watch this space.
Blogging on and off since January 2004.
THE ENTIRE SILMARILLION OF J. R. R. TOLKIEN IN ONE THOUSAND WORDS.
AINULINDALE:
ILUVATAR: Ahem.
AINUR: Wow! Existence!
ILUVATAR: *blows pitch pipe* LA!
AINUR: LA LA LA!
ILUVATAR: LA LA!
AINUR: LA LA!
MELKOR: This sucks. BUM BUM BA DUM!
AINUR: Um. . . la?
ILUVATAR: Ahem. LA!
MELKOR: Boop bop-a-doo-bop!
ILUVATAR: LA, dammit.
MELKOR: Bwam bardle ningle boom.
AINUR: . . .
ILUVATAR: Right, you're out of the band.
MELKOR: Fine, I was leaving anyway.
AINUR: . . .
ILUVATAR: What are you waiting for?
AINUR: Oh. Right. Newly created world. Sorry. Great jam session, big guy!
ILUVATAR: Yeesh.
VALAQUENTA:
MANWE: I'm in charge!
VARDA: I'm Manwe's spouse. And queen of the stars!
NAMO: I do death and fate. They call me Mandos.
VAIRE: I'm Namo's spouse. I weave things.
IRMO: I have gardens. They call me Lorien.
ESTE: I'm Irmo's spouse. I take care of the gardens.
YAVANNA: I make things grow.
NIENNA: I'm sad.
ULMO: I live in the ocean.
AULE: I'm Yavanna's spouse. I've got a great big hammer! I made dwarves.
NESSA: I dance.
OROME: I hunt!
VANA: I'm Orome's spouse. I make living things happy.
TULKAS: I'm strong. I'm Nessa's spouse. I got here last.
MELKOR: I'm bad, momma, I'm ONE BAD MUTHA-
TULKAS: Grar.
MELKOR: Um. Yeah. Hiding now.
QUENTA SILMARILLION:
VALAR: Hey! Ilmaren! Party on the island, everyone!
MELKOR: Bah. Too bright. *builds fortress, kicks over lamps*
VALAR: AUGH! *flee to west*
MELKOR: Hu hu hu.
VALAR: Oooooh SHINY TREES! Yavanna made shiny trees!
YAVANNA: Yep! Aren't they pretty?
MELKOR: Want shiny.
VALAR: Nope.
MELKOR: Why not?
VALAR: Because you're a jerk.
ELVES: Oh hey, stars. Shiny!
MELKOR: Oh hey, breeding stock.
ELVES: AUGH!
UNGOLIANT: Want shiny.
MELKOR: Let's go get shiny.
FEANOR: I've made more shiny!
VALAR: Good, 'cos Melkor took ours. Can we have yours?
FEANOR: No! MY SHINIES! MINE!
VALAR: Aw, !&*()!@&)!(&.
MELKOR: Got the shinies!
UNGOLIANT: Not enough shiny. Want more shiny!
MELKOR: You can't have 'em.
UNGOLIANT: Grar.
MELKOR: Eeek! *runs*
FEANOR AND SONS: We're gettin' our shinies back. And YOU CAN'T HAVE 'EM, Valar!
MELKOR/MORGOTH: No you're not. *stabbity fiery burny death*
BEREN: Ooo! Pretty elf lady!
THINGOL: You can have her if you ... BRING ME A SHINY!
BEREN: Worth a shot.
LUTHIEN: La la la
MORGOTH: Ooo baby... *zzz*
BEREN: Got your shiny!
MORGOTH: you BASTARD! I stole those fair and square!
CARCHAROTH: Grar.
BEREN: Ow!
THINGOL: Got the shiny?
BEREN: 's in my hand.
THINGOL: And?
BEREN: Hand's not here.
THINGOL: Crap, I really wanted that shiny.
CARCHAROTH: GRAR!!!!
BEREN: *dies*
LUTHIEN: *dies* La la la.
MANDOS: ... oh all right.
LUTHIEN: *returns to life*
BEREN: *returns to life*
LUTHIEN: Beren! Look! The shiny! In a necklace!
FEANOR'S SONS: *mutter*
LUTHIEN: *dies again*
BEREN: *dies again*
DIOR: Oo, Mom's shiny!
FEANOR'S SONS: WANT SHINY!
DIOR: *dies*
ELWING: Eek! *grabs shiny, runs*
FEANOR'S SONS: !*&(!)&)*!.
EARENDIL: Hey. Nice shiny. Yo! Valar!
VALAR: Well FINALLY. *stomp stomp stomp*
EARENDIL: Wow, planetary orbit!
MORGOTH: Eek!
VALAR: Got your shinies!
MAGLOR AND MAEDHROS: You mean OUR shinies!
VALAR: Oh *!&(!&).
MAGLOR AND MAEDHROS: Ow! Burny shinies!
MAEDHROS: Fine. This sucks. *jumps into chasm*
MAGLOR: Um... not really looking forward to meeting Dad again... *chucks shiny into sea* Bye. *wanders off*
VALAR: Well... um... okay.
AKALLABETH:
VALAR: Thanks for helping with Morgoth, Edain! Have an island! Elros is in charge!
EDAIN: Cool!
VALAR: Don't come looking for us.
EDAIN: Okay.
ELVES OF TOL ERESSEA: Have our stuff!
NUMENOREANS: Neat! Ooo, Middle-Earth!
GIL-GALAD: Dudes. Good to see you.
NUMENOREANS: Yeah, same here. What's going on?
GIL-GALAD: War with Sauron mostly.
MEN OF MIDDLE-EARTH: Shiny tall wonderful wise sea-king dudes! Yay!
NUMENOREANS: Here, have some stuff and wisdom.
MEN OF MIDDLE-EARTH: <3 <3 <3
NUMENOREANS: Life is cool. Why do we have to die?
ELVES: You're human?
NUMENOREANS: Can the Valar fix that?
VALAR: No.
NUMENOREANS: That sucks. Go away.
ELVES: Fine.
ELENDILI: Hey! Over here! We still like you!
MEN OF MIDDLE-EARTH: Gosh, we're lonely.
NUMENOREANS: Whatever, give us your wealth and your children.
MEN OF MIDDLE-EARTH: Um, okay.
ELENDILI: This isn't gonna end well, is it?
ELVES: No.
TAR-PALANTIR: We're sorry?
GIMILKHAD: *I'm* not.
AR-PHARAZON: Thanks for the throne, dude.
TAR-MIRIEL: Hey!
AR-PHARAZON: Shaddap, woman. Sauron, j00 suxx0r! I 0wnz0r j00!
SAURON: Okay.
AR-PHARAZON: Make me immortal.
SAURON: Human sacrifice is good. Also burn that pesky white tree.
AR-PHARAZON: Um. . .
ISILDUR: Hey! White tree! Got your fruit!
SAURON: *makes chicken noises*
AR-PHARAZON: Fine. Tree burn! Fire pretty!
ELENDIL: Isildur, Anarion, get the boats.
AR-PHARAZON: I've got a huge navy! Let's go conquer Valinor!
VALAR: Oh no you don't. *CRASHBANGBOOM*
AR-PHARAZON & CO.: Eeek!
ELENDIL, ISILDUR, ANARION: Wheee!
NUMENOREANS: Arrgh!
NUMENOR: SPLOOSH.
SAURON: Bwa ha ha! Um, where's my body?
ILUVATAR: Did I mention the world is round now?
NUMENOREANS IN EXILE: Well, crap.
OF THE RINGS OF POWER AND THE THIRD AGE:
ELVES: Wonder what's going on over the ocean. This crafting deal is pretty sweet, though!
DWARVES: Yeah, seriously.
ANNATAR: Hi, elves! Wanna learn some cool stuff?
ELVES: Okay!
SAURON: They fell for it.
SEVEN DWARVES: Thanks for the rings! . . oooh, GOLD! MUST HAVE GOLD!
NINE MEN: Neat rings. . . Hey, didn't Mom die like six hundred years ago?
CELEBRIMBOR: Okay, how about we do three more and call it a wrap?
SAURON: How about I do one more and claim them ALL?
ELVES: AUGH!
SAURON: Bwa ha ha!
LAST ALLIANCE OF ELVES AND MEN: Push off.
SAURON: Make me.
ISILDUR: Whack.
SAURON: Ow.
ELROND: Hey, you got his ring. Let's ditch it.
ISILDUR: No.
ELROND: This sucks.
ISILDUR: Tell me about it. *dies*
GONDORIANS: *change calendar*
CIRDAN: Hi, wizards! You in the grey, catch!
SAURON: Okay, that's long enough. Movin' into Dol Guldur.
SARUMAN: It's not him. Also the ring's lost at sea.
RING: No I'm not.
THE WISE: Augh.
THE WEAK: Bad ring! Volcano for you!
RING: *melts*
SAURON: AUGH!
MORDOR: BOOM.
GONDORIANS: *change calendar*
ELROND, GALADRIEL: Road trip!
GANDALF: Hi Cirdan! Still got your ring!
CIRDAN: Cool. Let's go to Valinor!
Decided after I read this that I wished to emulate Bookwoman and Slacker in doing a spot of writing. Watch this space.
Blogging on and off since January 2004.
Wednesday, November 16, 2005
I have returned...
What have I done since my last posting?
Seen freinds and got drunk at least three times, twice at fancy dress parties.
Changed shifts at work so that I can game more often.
Had my computer broken by Jamalen, but it's ok, he arranged for its replacement on the cheap.
Argued with Telewest a lot.
Fixed my new computer with help from Muffin so that I can tell you all about it.
Organised a Call of C'thullu LRP.
Had my car fail it's MOT so now I'm a pedestrian again.
Bought my sister's Christmas present.
Bought my christmas present.
Faffed.
Now on with the ripping off of other perple's bloggs. Huzzah!
Seen freinds and got drunk at least three times, twice at fancy dress parties.
Changed shifts at work so that I can game more often.
Had my computer broken by Jamalen, but it's ok, he arranged for its replacement on the cheap.
Argued with Telewest a lot.
Fixed my new computer with help from Muffin so that I can tell you all about it.
Organised a Call of C'thullu LRP.
Had my car fail it's MOT so now I'm a pedestrian again.
Bought my sister's Christmas present.
Bought my christmas present.
Faffed.
Now on with the ripping off of other perple's bloggs. Huzzah!
Sunday, September 25, 2005
Top quality Beeb drama...
I was idly trawling through BBC7's listen again schedule hunting out some of my favourite comedy shows this evening and I came accross a trailer for Troy, a three part radio play of epic proportions. I hunted it up and was swept away for the next one and a half hours to another time where the gods walked among men and doing deals with fate could bring great nations down. Oh, and there's some sort of love story too...
If you have the spare time, you can find part one here. Do so, you won't regret it.
Blogging on and off since January 2004.
If you have the spare time, you can find part one here. Do so, you won't regret it.
Blogging on and off since January 2004.
Friday, September 23, 2005
Disturbing Images...
Just after completing the LotR marathon the other day I decided to launch myself into the books for my annual re-read of them. Imagine my surprise when I discovered that this time Tom Bombadil and Goldberry appeared as Tom and Barbara from The Good Life!
Confused? You bet I was!
I think my upstairs needs a good dusting.
Blogging on and off since January 2004.
Confused? You bet I was!
I think my upstairs needs a good dusting.
Blogging on and off since January 2004.
Friday, September 16, 2005
Monday, September 12, 2005
Lord of the Rings...
I've had nothing better to do today so I watched Peter Jackson's LotR Trilogy. All ten hours. And as usual, in any media format, the ending left me a gibbering, emotional wreck for five minutes. (Hey I'm in touch with my feelings, 'k?) So to cheer myself up I went looking for Tolkien Guff and found this on the Sarcasm Page...
Beginning Questions
1. Just exactly what was the nature of the friendship between Gimli and Legolas?
2. If Aragorn had the option, would he have ditched the Fellowship for a date with Pamela Anderson?
3. Why didn't Gandalf just blow up the armies that got in his way, if he was so powerful?
4. How many times is the word "passed" used in LotR? (No peeking!)
5. What exactly was in lembas? (Hint: in Letters #210, JRRT says quite explicitly that lembas is not a "food concentrate".)
6. Why didn't the hobbits in the Shire rise against Sharkey and his men sooner? (Were Frodo, Sam and the lads a cut above hobbitdom and thus extraordinary?)
7. If Aragorn truly spent uncounted years as a lone Ranger, then where the hell is Tonto? And why doesn't he wear that mask?
8. If Frodo hung the Ring on a chain, why didn't the chain turn invisible?
Advanced Questions
9. When Isildur had control of the One Ring, why didn't he use it to command the Ringwraiths? Or the Elven-rings? Or the Dwarven-rings? He could have ruled the whole of Middle-earth with that Ring, yet he decided instead to just write a couple of letters and then go for an unfortunate swim. What's his problem, anyway? Was he stupid?
10. When Legolas introduces Gimli to Treebeard, Gimli bows low and his axe falls to the ground. Treebeard notices this, but merely comments "Hoom! A Dwarf and an axe-bearer!" rather than smash Gimli to Play-Doh™. Doubtless you've heard of the poem, "Woodsman, Spare That Tree!"; did Tolkien have plans to write another version, titled "Tree, Spare That Woodsman!"?
11. Why is the tale of Beren and Luthien subtitled "Release from Bondage", when we never even once get to see her tied up? (And I was really hoping, too.)
12. And if, as is likely, a bacterium had landed on the inner surface of the Ring, would the Ring corrupt it into an evil bacterium? Would it be invisible to other bacteria? Would its' life stretch out and become an unending weariness? Would it use its' increased strength and stature to rule over other bacteria? Would it fight to keep other bacteria from adhering to the Ring? Would it still evolve genetically, or would it instead become a Bacteria-wraith?
Advanced Questions
13. When the Dwarves of beautiful Khazad-Dum built their Western door, why did they allow it to be inscribed with the insulting name of "Moria" ("Black Pit"), a name that would only be earned long years afterwards?
14. Reconcile Tom Bombadil's statement that he is "Eldest" with Gandalf's statement that Fangorn is "the oldest of all living things". Extra Credit: suggest a valid date of birth for each of them. Document your answers.
15. Aragorn states (Two Towers, p. 18 hardback) that Sauron never uses the name "Sauron", nor does he "permit it to be spelt or spoken". Reconcile this text with the text of Return of the King, p. 164 hardback, where the Lieutenant of Barad-Dur clearly states, "I am the Mouth of Sauron".
16. Though Moria is, by rightful ownership, Dain's, Balin nonetheless referred to himself as "Lord of Moria". Helm's Deep is clearly the property of the Rohirrim, being part of lands granted to them by Gondor long years ago, yet in Return of the King p. 360 hardback Gimli declares himself "Lord of the Glittering Caves". Explain the laws and history pertaining to Dwarven property rights, and how those differed from the customs of Elves and Men. For full credit your answer must also reconcile Dwarven property laws with the generous nature of Aule, the Dwarves' creator.
17. How would the history of Middle-earth have differed if Sauron had returned to Aman and received the judgement of Manwe at the end of the First Age, rather than remaining in Middle-Earth (Silmarillion p. 285 hardback)? Describe resultant cultural differences which would have taken place in the Second, Third and Fourth Ages. Special emphasis should be given to the cultures of the Grey Havens, Numenor (including the Dunedain and the Black Numenoreans), the Rohirrim, the Dunlendings and others descending from the peoples of the White Mountains, the Ents, the peoples of Khand, the Orcs (particularly those tribes living in the Grey, Misty and Ash Mountains and the Mountains of Shadow), the Elven peoples of Gil-Galad (include Elrond and the likelihood of Rivendell's being constructed), the Hobbits (beginning from when they were living in the Vales of Anduin), and the Haradrim (both Near and Far Harad must be covered for full credit). Also speculate on the differences in culture which would take place in Aman as Sauron describes his experience with evil to the Valar, Maiar, and Eldar living there. On Silmarillion p. 65, it states that "Manwe was free from evil and could not comprehend it"; would he gain an understanding of evil from the experiences of Sauron? Be prepared to defend your answer
Blogging on and off since January 2004.
Beginning Questions
1. Just exactly what was the nature of the friendship between Gimli and Legolas?
2. If Aragorn had the option, would he have ditched the Fellowship for a date with Pamela Anderson?
3. Why didn't Gandalf just blow up the armies that got in his way, if he was so powerful?
4. How many times is the word "passed" used in LotR? (No peeking!)
5. What exactly was in lembas? (Hint: in Letters #210, JRRT says quite explicitly that lembas is not a "food concentrate".)
6. Why didn't the hobbits in the Shire rise against Sharkey and his men sooner? (Were Frodo, Sam and the lads a cut above hobbitdom and thus extraordinary?)
7. If Aragorn truly spent uncounted years as a lone Ranger, then where the hell is Tonto? And why doesn't he wear that mask?
8. If Frodo hung the Ring on a chain, why didn't the chain turn invisible?
Advanced Questions
9. When Isildur had control of the One Ring, why didn't he use it to command the Ringwraiths? Or the Elven-rings? Or the Dwarven-rings? He could have ruled the whole of Middle-earth with that Ring, yet he decided instead to just write a couple of letters and then go for an unfortunate swim. What's his problem, anyway? Was he stupid?
10. When Legolas introduces Gimli to Treebeard, Gimli bows low and his axe falls to the ground. Treebeard notices this, but merely comments "Hoom! A Dwarf and an axe-bearer!" rather than smash Gimli to Play-Doh™. Doubtless you've heard of the poem, "Woodsman, Spare That Tree!"; did Tolkien have plans to write another version, titled "Tree, Spare That Woodsman!"?
11. Why is the tale of Beren and Luthien subtitled "Release from Bondage", when we never even once get to see her tied up? (And I was really hoping, too.)
12. And if, as is likely, a bacterium had landed on the inner surface of the Ring, would the Ring corrupt it into an evil bacterium? Would it be invisible to other bacteria? Would its' life stretch out and become an unending weariness? Would it use its' increased strength and stature to rule over other bacteria? Would it fight to keep other bacteria from adhering to the Ring? Would it still evolve genetically, or would it instead become a Bacteria-wraith?
Advanced Questions
13. When the Dwarves of beautiful Khazad-Dum built their Western door, why did they allow it to be inscribed with the insulting name of "Moria" ("Black Pit"), a name that would only be earned long years afterwards?
14. Reconcile Tom Bombadil's statement that he is "Eldest" with Gandalf's statement that Fangorn is "the oldest of all living things". Extra Credit: suggest a valid date of birth for each of them. Document your answers.
15. Aragorn states (Two Towers, p. 18 hardback) that Sauron never uses the name "Sauron", nor does he "permit it to be spelt or spoken". Reconcile this text with the text of Return of the King, p. 164 hardback, where the Lieutenant of Barad-Dur clearly states, "I am the Mouth of Sauron".
16. Though Moria is, by rightful ownership, Dain's, Balin nonetheless referred to himself as "Lord of Moria". Helm's Deep is clearly the property of the Rohirrim, being part of lands granted to them by Gondor long years ago, yet in Return of the King p. 360 hardback Gimli declares himself "Lord of the Glittering Caves". Explain the laws and history pertaining to Dwarven property rights, and how those differed from the customs of Elves and Men. For full credit your answer must also reconcile Dwarven property laws with the generous nature of Aule, the Dwarves' creator.
17. How would the history of Middle-earth have differed if Sauron had returned to Aman and received the judgement of Manwe at the end of the First Age, rather than remaining in Middle-Earth (Silmarillion p. 285 hardback)? Describe resultant cultural differences which would have taken place in the Second, Third and Fourth Ages. Special emphasis should be given to the cultures of the Grey Havens, Numenor (including the Dunedain and the Black Numenoreans), the Rohirrim, the Dunlendings and others descending from the peoples of the White Mountains, the Ents, the peoples of Khand, the Orcs (particularly those tribes living in the Grey, Misty and Ash Mountains and the Mountains of Shadow), the Elven peoples of Gil-Galad (include Elrond and the likelihood of Rivendell's being constructed), the Hobbits (beginning from when they were living in the Vales of Anduin), and the Haradrim (both Near and Far Harad must be covered for full credit). Also speculate on the differences in culture which would take place in Aman as Sauron describes his experience with evil to the Valar, Maiar, and Eldar living there. On Silmarillion p. 65, it states that "Manwe was free from evil and could not comprehend it"; would he gain an understanding of evil from the experiences of Sauron? Be prepared to defend your answer
Blogging on and off since January 2004.
Sunday, August 28, 2005
Geektastic!
| Pure Geek 43 % Nerd, 52% Geek, 47% Dork |
| For The Record: A Nerd is someone who is passionate about learning/being smart/academia. A Geek is someone who is passionate about some particular area or subject, often an obscure or difficult one. A Dork is someone who has difficulty with common social expectations/interactions. You scored better than half in Geek, earning you the title of: Pure Geek. It's not that you're a school junkie, like the nerd, and you don't really stand out in a crowd, like the dork, you just have some interests that aren't quite mainstream. Perhaps it's anime, perhaps it's computers, perhaps it's bottlecaps, perhaps it's all of those and more. Your interests take you to events and gatherings that are filled with people you find unusual and beyond-the-pale, but you don't quite consider yourself "of that crowd." Instead, you consider yourself to be fairly normal. Which, you are. Congratulations! You're the one on the RIGHT! Also, you might want to check out some of my other tests if you're interested in either of the following: Buffy the Vampire Slayer Professional Wrestling Love & Sexuality Thanks Again! -- THE NERD? GEEK? OR DORK? TEST |
 |
My test tracked 3 variables How you compared to other people your age and gender:
|
| Link: The Nerd? Geek? or Dork? Test written by donathos on Ok Cupid |
I was hoping to be as balanced as Dr. Sordid...ah well, It's nothing I didn't know...
Blogging on and off since January 2004.
Another end of an era...
Well it's 1:50am and i'm plastered again. Today was the sending off of Dirty Fairy and Cool Car Guy. On Wednesday they leave the Frozen North for the sunnier climes of Cymru (Wales to the uneducated). Tonight Dead Princess and The King hosted a sending off party for them at which almost all of their friends attended (those who didn't attend were absent by reason of distance). We wish them luck in their new venture.
As an aside I'd personally like to thank The King for opening up his wine and spirits cellar to me and Chaos for an entertaining debate on the economy of Star Wars which was doomed to failure on my part but was entertaining for the 20 minutes it took to walk the distance. I love efending a doomed position.
Blogging on and off since January 2004.
As an aside I'd personally like to thank The King for opening up his wine and spirits cellar to me and Chaos for an entertaining debate on the economy of Star Wars which was doomed to failure on my part but was entertaining for the 20 minutes it took to walk the distance. I love efending a doomed position.
Blogging on and off since January 2004.
And I was hoping for Jon...
You are the Fourth Doctor: A walking Bohemian
conundrum with a brooding personal magnetism
and a first-rate intellect concealed somewhere
beneath your charmingly goofy exterior. You are
perhaps the most terribly clever of all the
Doctors, though your occasional bouts of
childishness get you in trouble. You never go
looking for a fight, but when someone messes
with you... good heavens, are they ever sorry
they did.
Which Incarnation of the Doctor Are You?
brought to you by Quizilla
I took this test 4 diffeent times over three days hoping for Jon and all I got was Tom. Well, you can't argue with the truth. What do you think?
Blogging on and off since January 2004.
Monday, August 22, 2005
I sense competition management...
People who know me know that for pleasure I tend to read brick-thick fantasy novels. I've finally learned the release date for two of them. Knife of Dreams by Robert Jordan is from the long running Wheel of Time series. This will be the eleventh book to be published since 1991 and I've been following it closely since practically day one. The tenth was published in early 2003 and this one will be in the shops on 11/10/2005. Practically a two year wait between books but no matter.
The other is A Feast for Crows from George R. R. Martin's Song of Ice and Fire series. This set is shorter, only four books (technically three but they separated book three into parts one and two) but I'm just as avidly hooked. The last part was published in the UK in 2000 and we've been waiting ever since. (Cries of "GET ON WITH IT!" from off camera). Ice and Fire has been on the go since 1996, not a bad initial spurt but it has slowed right down in recent years. Book four will be published in the UK on 17/10/2005.
I was looking at these dates and wondered why so close together? I assume the books are all ready to go so why release two of the most eagerly awaited novels in the genre so close together?
Blogging on and off since January 2004.
The other is A Feast for Crows from George R. R. Martin's Song of Ice and Fire series. This set is shorter, only four books (technically three but they separated book three into parts one and two) but I'm just as avidly hooked. The last part was published in the UK in 2000 and we've been waiting ever since. (Cries of "GET ON WITH IT!" from off camera). Ice and Fire has been on the go since 1996, not a bad initial spurt but it has slowed right down in recent years. Book four will be published in the UK on 17/10/2005.
I was looking at these dates and wondered why so close together? I assume the books are all ready to go so why release two of the most eagerly awaited novels in the genre so close together?
Blogging on and off since January 2004.
A band-wagon, I must be on it....
Always one to follow along like a lost sheep I discovered this on Stu's page. I like it and think you will too.
I like it so much I'll put it on my link bar.
Blogging on and off since January 2004.
I like it so much I'll put it on my link bar.
Blogging on and off since January 2004.
Tuesday, August 16, 2005
But it's a good kind of pain...
Today was a bit different. Aparently Her Majesty's Customs and Revenue (the former Inland Revenue merged with Her Majesty's Customs and Excise and my current employers for those who haven't been paying attention) run a volunteers day. My team decised to help Dundee City Council's Ranger Service. We envisaged maybe clearing up some litter and erecting some squirrel boxes. Not too much hassle. A break from the routine, fresh air and some easy, not too demanding physical tasks. Or so we thought.
The time was 9:30am, the palce was Trottick Mill Ponds. A former linen and jute mill's source of power allowed to become a nature reserve. Our job today was to assist the ranger in clearing out some of the channels that lead from the local river, the Dighty Burn, via the sluice gates to the ponds themselves. Thse channels had become silted up over the last year or so and if they weren't cleared would prevent the river from filling the ponds. The paths to the channels wouldn't support a small digger so enter us, stage left.
Waders on our legs (except for me, my feet are too big) and spades in hand we proceded to dig out the channels to their stone bottoms, removing a years accumulated silt and detritus. Yuck. It was nasty, messy, smelly hard work and it took is most of the day to shovel and shift the silt.
We did get a break from silt shovelling for an hour or so after lunch but that was only to pour and mix concrete to repair some vandalised nature information signs. More spade work. And after that? Silt! Yay.
At the end of the day, however, with our backs aching and hands blistering from the unaccustomed hard graft we surveyed what we had done with a muck covered, satisfied air. We opened the sluice gates and after a few moments the water ran free and clear. Huzzah. We felt good. We were in pain but we felt good.
Good job it's only once a year... I may come to like it otherwise...
Blogging on and off since January 2004.
The time was 9:30am, the palce was Trottick Mill Ponds. A former linen and jute mill's source of power allowed to become a nature reserve. Our job today was to assist the ranger in clearing out some of the channels that lead from the local river, the Dighty Burn, via the sluice gates to the ponds themselves. Thse channels had become silted up over the last year or so and if they weren't cleared would prevent the river from filling the ponds. The paths to the channels wouldn't support a small digger so enter us, stage left.
Waders on our legs (except for me, my feet are too big) and spades in hand we proceded to dig out the channels to their stone bottoms, removing a years accumulated silt and detritus. Yuck. It was nasty, messy, smelly hard work and it took is most of the day to shovel and shift the silt.
We did get a break from silt shovelling for an hour or so after lunch but that was only to pour and mix concrete to repair some vandalised nature information signs. More spade work. And after that? Silt! Yay.
At the end of the day, however, with our backs aching and hands blistering from the unaccustomed hard graft we surveyed what we had done with a muck covered, satisfied air. We opened the sluice gates and after a few moments the water ran free and clear. Huzzah. We felt good. We were in pain but we felt good.
Good job it's only once a year... I may come to like it otherwise...
Blogging on and off since January 2004.
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