...and I watched TV and ate some ramen.

2003-04-30T00:43:00.000-07:00

I Try To Write Stories, Too

I mean, after all... that was the whole idea of this blog was to provide a place for some story ideas. I really should work more on this current work. I like it overall, but I just haven't bothered to write anything major of late. To start things off, here's a brief conceptual (well sorta brief) of what the main idea of the project is supposed to be.

The story takes place 12 years following a long and destructive war between two nations: An empire of the Northern Continent and a union of hundreds of islands to the South. The result of the war was officially considered a victory to the North, but neither side gained anything in the form of power or land. Each side suffered severe losses, as the war lasted 20 years. Much to the dismay of the Northern Empire's table of leaders, nearly every one of the North's greatest military heroes were killed in combat. In a desperate attempt to restore their greatest heroes, Alchemists from the North were assigned to find a way to do so.

Their plan involved the use of ancient techniques. The central technique dealt with the use of rare minerals called Soulstone. Ancient scriptures detailed that whenever the blood of the deceased came in contact with Soulstone (pouring over, blend with crumbled Soulstone, etc.), it be temporarily infected. This infected blood, when consumed or transfused into another person's system, would possess the recipient's body with the soul of the deceased in which the blood was taken from. However, the results were brief at best, as the Soulstone's presence in the used blood vanished in a matter of time.

The project, which the Alchemists called Project Symbiote, was intended to make the effects of Soulstone on the deceased's blood to be permanent. After many years of trail and error, the final stages of the plan took place approximately 2 years before the war's official end (14 years from present time). The blood of twenty-seven of the North's finest military officials and soldiers was stored for many years. It was then given to selected subjects, all of which were either newly born or a year or two old when selected. Each child was assigned the blood of a different general, and by the fifth year of the final project (9 years from present time) was dosed to them. The subjects (all of whom were between the ages of five and eight at the time) then underwent a procedure which involved attaching two small tubes, one behind each ear, to their heads. The tube behind their left ear was used to give each subject a dose of the Soulstone-infected blood. It would be refilled every other month. A tube behind their right ear held a substantial amount of Soulstone-infected blood. This dose, however, was highly concentrated and was intended as the final dose. Once the subject was given this final dose, the subject's personality would be completely taken over by the soul and personality of the blood's donor (specifically the generals and soldiers of the North).

Aside from the regulated doses of blended blood and Soulstone, the children were raised in the Project Site (currently untitled, I'll figure it out later) normally until the ninth year (the subjects were between 9 and 12, 5 years from present time) of the project. It was then when the subjects were put in stasis, where they would sleep until the next required dose. It was intended to continue this way until the 15th year of the project, and then the final dose would be given.

However, the officals in charge of the project were either removed or had died... and eventually the project was no longer known to the current table of leaders. At 2 years before present time (the 12th year of the project), the Northern Empire officially canceled the project with no regard to any of its findings. Everyone involved was told to leave the project site, and everything was left behind (most paperwork and data was burned). The site was abandoned, and the 27 subjects were left in stasis.

A year later, a group of travelers and missionaries came across the abandoned site. Specifically, they discovered the stasis tubes that the subjects were left in. The site was running of limited energy, and it was evident to the travelers. They opened the stasis tubes on all 27 subjects, only to find fifteen of them had survived. Of those, five subjects immediately awoke. The remaining were in a comatose state. The surviving subjects (all between the ages of 13 and 16) were brought to the closest town.

By present time, all of the surviving children were living in an old monastery, operating by a staff of matron who watch over abandoned children. The ten subjects in comatose all eventually awoke. The last of whom was named Accord (none of the children knew of their previous names, so the Matrons named them).

Accord was similar to some of the other subjects. Seven of the fifteen subjects had a bizzare ailment. A second voice, practically another entity could be heard by the only the subject. The matrons and the subjects did not know what it was, but it was in fact the souls of the deceased generals they were to host. They cannot completely possess the subjects, but it's as though they exist along side the subject... but rather in their heads. Some are further along than others: Merina, one of the five that awoke immediately, can actually allow the second entity to speak aloud through her voice.

The story focuses on Accord, just after he awakes from his coma. It goes from him living in the monastery, trying to figure out what happened to him and the other subjects, forming a 'relationship' between himself and the entity in his mind, and eventually embarking on a journey to discover what led to him, Merina's, and the other 13 subject's current state.

Of actual story content, I'm working on the first part. When I say 'working', I mean 'worked on days before and haven't done anything since'. I just need to get my act together. I'm really slacking off, and there's no excuse. I'll certainly try to get working on it again, but just not tonight. I gotta get up early.

We're Here And Now, But Will We Ever Be Again?

This sort has to do with my FLCL obsession right now. I just finished d/l'ing an Anime Music Video that combined the anime FLCL with the song "Shimmer", which is a song from Fuel's first album, Sunburn. I hadn't heard this song in forever, but after listening to it again I realize how amazing that song is. I bought the full album a few years back when I first heard the song. Unfortunately, I recall only liking that one song. Although, I may give that album a listen again as my early years consisted of not listening to full CDs when purchasing them. I try not to do that nowadays. Anyhoo, "Shimmer" is by far the best song from Fuel that I've heard, maybe just next to "Bad Day". As for the video, I announce this as being one of the most amazing AMVs I've ever viewed. Props for taking a frantic show such as Furi Kuri and making a video on a completely different set of emotions that the majority of the actual series strictly focuses on. Great, great work.

2003-04-29T02:03:00.000-07:00

Bringing Up My FLCL Kick

I'm still awake, so I'll write some more...

Sometime in January or February, my brother bought the first volume of FLCL (or Furi Kuri or Fooly Cooly or whatever fits your bill the best). Upon watching it, I probably determined what tons of people before me who saw it: it's frantic, frenetic, crazy, but absolutely entertaining. I was totally amazed with just the first two episodes (sadly is of only six, but perhaps it's for the best... I don't know if I could imagine this show spanning any longer and still keep it's outrageousness), so much in fact that I probably watch the first volume DVD over and over, at least a dozen or so times before I could find the second volume for sale. I watched it in English over and over, once or so in Japanese, and even the director's commentary. I recommend that for sure, by the way. FLCL can get outrageously confusing, and the commentary seems to provide some help to figure out the this and that. After I got the second volume, that went through the grind I put the first volume through. It's absolutely fantastic. I'm totally looking forward to the third and final DVD, which unfortunately doesn't release until July.

The characters are crazy. Naota is a strong lead, and even with the bizarre situations that go on his life starting at the beginning of the first episode. Quite the events unfold on him when just about going through the whole 'awkward' phase 14 year old boys go through. While it starts with the arrival with Haruhara Haruko, it certainly doesn't end there. She has to be one of my favorite all time anime characters. The English VA is just perfect too. Haruko definitely pushes the story into its crazy swirl, and she does it amazingly. The support characters are outstanding. Mamimi is a quirky personal fave of mine, if only for her lips. Her lips are the most elaborate and alluring set I've seen in an anime.

And lastly... the music. It's nice to see an nontypical anime soundtrack. This must be the first 'alternative' or at least rock soundtrack I've heard for an anime. The entire series uses the Pillows, apparently an obscure Japanese rock band, for the tunage. All the tracks are from old albums of theirs, but yet it still feels like it meshes perfectly for the show. From the first 4 eps, I've determined the scenes that uses "Crazy Sunshine" in the background is by far the best uses of music to help move the events along. Outstanding.

Now all this talk brings me to the kick. I've got a nifty FLCL wallpaper (the fourth or fifth one this month), a FLCL winamp skin, and a bevy of poor quality FLCL sounds for various cues on my computer. And hey, that drooly face is Naota himself. I haven't quite pulled the cosplay yet, but that may be because I'm fat and can't make a costume right now.

Miscellaneous

I'm reading Battle Royale. It's what the Japanese movie was based off of. I liked the movie, personally. I swore I wouldn't read books that movies are based off of if I've already seen the movie, but so help me... I couldn't resist.

2003-04-29T00:04:00.000-07:00

Naturally, I try to start something and sure enough... I leave it in the dust for well over a week. I'm so easily distracted, so I can't I'm totally shocked. So why even bother coming back to it? As I'll bring up in just a moment, I've got a bit of free time right now. It's about damned time that I put some of it to good use, ya?

The Unjobbification of Me

I'm so clever with fake ass words. On April 26th, I was officially terminated from my job. The reason they gave was 'Gross Misconduct'. The nonbookkeeping friendly reason was that I wrote on a bathroom wall on the 24th. As to what it was that I wrote... something pretty stupid. "Who cares if it's Fooly or Cooly?" See, I told you it was stupid. That's what I get for being on a FLCL kick and not being pissed about anything. I was bored, pretty much. There's really no good reason for it. Still, when it comes down to it, it was vandalism. If I were to complain about it, I'd bitch about how it was just in marker and it would have easily come off. I know that bullshit wasn't going to work, so there was no reason to bother. So, I said that I had done it and just heard out the consequences. Which was suspension until I could speak with the store manager. Just delaying the inevitable. The managers who caught me said the chances weren't good, and I knew it wasn't going to be good. So on that following Saturday, I call to set up a time to speak with him. However, I just chose to hear his decision over the phone... why waste his time when we both know what's gonna happen.

I tried to be as understanding as possible and I didn't want to sound like I didn't realize what I did. Apologies to the Store Manager on the phone, apologies to the Assistant Manager who gave me the papers to sign and who took my namebadge and vest. Shook his hand and said, "For what it's worth, I'm sorry." About the most I could do to make my exit as professional as I could make it.

So yeah, that was it. I'm a bit surprised that I'm not at all depressed about it. I mean, I worked there (Wal*Mart) for nearly five and a half years. I've never worked a different job before. It may be a little bizarre to do something brand new. On the other hand, I was getting tired of doing the same thing. I went from Cashier to Customer Service to Layaway to Electronic Sales Associate to Seafood Sales Associate back to Electronics Sales Associate. A little of bit of change here and there, but it was practically the same ol same ol. In a way, I'm welcoming the chance to do something new. Besides getting a new job, I need to decide to what else I'm gonna do. I really should get into school again (college wise), but then again I don't have a damn clue what I wanna do in college. I just don't want to end up an English Major flipping burgers. I need to find something that works.

Until then, I just need to find a new job.

The Movie Season Officially Begins... least for me it does

Now something more flowery. I usually start watching movies around this time. If it wasn't some fucking cold from January to early March, I may had seen some of the early stuff. Instead, I've started with The Core and went from there. I've written brief reviews on the movies I've seen, but I'll just go with some brief things here.

The Core -- Derivative, typical, disaster flick, but not remotely as bad I would've thought.
Phone Booth -- Unique, sharp performances by Farrell and Sutherland. However, a little short and the ending was rosey.
A Man Apart -- Vin was good, but the meat of the movie just seemed to be there between him losing his wife and avenging it afterwards.
Anger Management -- Better than the average Sandler movie, but still nothing fantastic. The ending was kinda gimmicky.
Bulletproof Monk -- Too much Hollywood talk in a movie that had average fight scenes (the standard variety ones no less).
Confidence -- Very clever, impressive cast line up, and funny to boot. Up there with Phone Booth as the best so far.

That's it for now. Seeing as how I don't have a job, my movie watching will be on hold a bit... Maybe I can bum some cash to see something on Friday, but I doubt I'll stoop so low.

Okay I'm done.

2003-04-17T20:30:00.000-07:00

Hooray For Verbal Fisticuffs

There's this message board forum I go to. The site itself is supposed to be another big videogame website. Perhaps something that has been done time and time again. Still, the site concept is very elaborate. It's attempt at making an encyclopedia style website. If I need to give examples, here is such. The site is designed to be a Squaresoft devoted site. So, let's say you look up information on Final Fantasy X. You wanna figure out where the hell to find an item, click on the link for the item. You'll be able to find where it is sold or what monster drops it. From there you can look up stuff on said areas or monsters. Apparently, at least from what I've gathered, you could be able to move into all sorts of information (even into games you weren't initially searching about). The concept is ideal, but it seems it's still a ways from full completion. I'm not gonna bitch here about how I demand the site hurry and fucking get opened proper. The main guy for the site works a full-time job, so I'm sure he's got enough to worry about. Even then, the forum he runs is suitable enough for me at this moment.

Which brings me back to what I was intending to talk about. In this said forum, there's a few people who post there who are just phenomenal. Not necessarily phenomenal for anything really outstanding, but I'm totally in awe of what patience and time they take for what they to seem to frequently do. There are more than who I will describe here, but the three I will talk about seem to be the most frequent. These fellows go by the names of Sephiroth5203, RyuHayabusa, and Collin. What exactly do they do that I'm jawdropped for?

Well... when it comes down to it... I'm amazed by the sheer amount of bitching and arguing they do. Threads upon threads have been used to launch shots (attacks, counterattacks, and so on) at each other. It's mostly Collin against Ryu or Collin against Seph (well it's pretty much always Collin against somebody), but just to see how much effort the responsible parties put into heated arguments. This is more than just a "You're stupid. No you're stupid. No you're stupid. No, you're mom is stupid. You're mom is a whore." Granted, there's a fair share of f-bombs and s-words and other crap like that. It's just crazy that the majority of these arguments weigh in at the thousands and thousands of words and dozens upon dozens of paragraphs just to show that they're correct.

It's almost a little too damn much to want to read at times, but I've really got to tip my hat to any and all of them who get into these petty internet fights and turn them into some strongly competed arguments. I just wish I had the patience to right something that in-depth in one sitting. I'm not a heavy poster at that forum, and I'm definitely guilty of dropping a stupid one liner or brief comment. I've also done my share of semi-lenghty commentaries. But... the fucking book reports Collin, Seph, Ryu and the like produce is just absurd. I'd kill for the ability to just be able to make posts that long. I don't know, maybe I'm too laid back or just lazy to pull off something like they do. If I weren't so easily distracted. However, this isn't exactly the sort of thing I'd ask any of them for pointers. Maybe I'll consider it. Maybe not.

2003-04-17T01:28:00.000-07:00

I don't know why I'm bothering, really. But anyway, I have decided to try giving a blog another shot. I'm just hoping I can make this something more than just the same bullshit diaries the internet is just chock full of. Then again, I'm sure there are boat loads of morons like myself than feel they can do something innovative or plain old special out of this. When it comes down to it, the common majority just end up doing the same. Day 35, I'm bored. Day 36, I went shopping. Day 37, I watched some TV and ate some ramen for dinner. Lord knows there's a shitload of those blogs and diaries on the net.

So here's a weak vow to attempt to try not to do that. When it comes down to it, my only goal with this handy dandy blog is this...

1. Potentially have an outlet for my creative projects. I am writer of sorts. Unfortunately, I can never get myself to ever completing anything I write. Here's to hoping that trend will end eventually. Being the natural pessimist that I am, I have my sincere doubts.
2. Review or provide some form in-depth commentary on some of the shit I watch or play. Woohoo for reviewing. I'm not terribly good at writing a straight review. I almost always wind up with the same crap each time. This movie was good. This movie was bad. I liked this anime. I really liked this anime. This game sucks. blah blah blah I do have some ideas for something else... perhaps something along the line of how I feel about this and that. I dunno, it'll be a matter of time to see how I really go about this.
3. Ah yes, the everyday bullshit is bound to show up here. If I can manage it, the content that comes out dealing with this type of stuff will be more than just I did this and I did that. There are things that are interesting in some fashion to my life (although most of it seems to be to other people around me... what can I say? it's interesting and dealing with me in an indirect way... so it's alright) and I feel they're worth mentioning every once in a while.

But it's hard to say what will become of this. I just checked my old blog recently... a poor victim of the same ol same ol. Surveys of what character of whatever show are you, crappy unimportant things I did... on and on. I don't wanna do that anymore. But who's to say I won't cave and do it again.

Here's to looking back and hoping that's where it stays... far in the back.

Okay, a real first entry comes soons... or one can only hope.