ria_oaks: (Default)
ria_oaks ([personal profile] ria_oaks) wrote2006-11-14 01:53 pm

FF ramblings

I happened to check Rpgamer.com a few minutes ago and noticed that FFIII:DS comes out today (I haven't really been keeping track...). I'm probably just being too over-emotional, but this day feels rather historic in the RPG world - the last Final Fantasy that wasn't released in the US is finally here. I checked, and it's been approximately 16.5 years since FFIII was released in Japan - well, better late than never, I guess. XD I mean sure, I played it years ago on a translated ROM and I won't be buying this version anytime soon (lack of a DS... and lack of time to play. woe.), but it's still cool to think that it's here. It's sort of a pity that the original version of the game will never make it here, most likely (how hard would it have been to include the orignal version in the new game, really...?), but the new version looks pretty spiffy. Hopefully I'll get to play it someday.

3 FF games in the past 2 weeks, 2 of which are new to the US (FFXII and FFIII:DS) and one of which only ever made it here in a mangled fashion (FFV Advance) - makes me miss the days when I could play all the time... I haven't really been into gaming as much the last few years, largely because of a. lack of time during school, b. other interests take up my free time, and c. i'm lazy., but I still get excited hearing about games and still want to play when I get the chance. I'm way behind on all the games I'm playing, but I still plan to ask for either FFXII or Disgaea 2 for Christmas (leaning towards the latter - FFXII will be easy enough to find for years to come, and it'll get cheap fairly quickly, whereas Disgaea 2 will start disappearing soon...). I am sorely tempted by FFXII, though - it's been getting fantastic reviews, and hell, it's FFXII! We've been waiting for this game for years, and it's finally here... and I really can't justify the time or money to get it. Part of me, too, is still a bit uncertain about it - but most of the reviews have said that the game is nothing like (and much better than) anything we've seen of it to this point, including the demo. I plan to give it a chance eventually, but can't do it yet.

And... I'm procrastinating. Back to my Farscape paper... it's due tomorrow at 9, so I need to get moving. Up to 5 pages, need about 12 - and I'm still blathering on about the context, haven't even gotten to analysing the series itself! Ehehehe. baaack to work.

[identity profile] bk635.livejournal.com 2009-02-06 04:01 am (UTC)(link)
High Speed:
# Up to 5 Mbps download speed
# Up to 512 Kbps upload speed
# 60 GB/month data transfer

Extreme-I:
# Up to 10 Mbps download speed
# Up to 1 Mbps upload speed
# 100 GB/month data transfer

It's a noticeable difference, I'd say. I don't think I could go back to High Speed. But things like infrastructure age and node congestion can explain speed differences in one area of the city compared to another.

Their Nitro package is better (25d/1u), but it's a scam compared to something like Verizon FIOS, which I don't think is available in Canada. :(

[identity profile] bk635.livejournal.com 2009-02-08 10:39 pm (UTC)(link)
Donnie Darko is on SPACE tonight at 9:00. Have TiVo record this. >:o

[identity profile] bk635.livejournal.com 2009-02-09 04:25 am (UTC)(link)
Supernatural's upcoming episode "Jump the Shark" worries me greatly. Hopefully, judging by the name, they're just going to have fun with it and forget about it later. >.>

You haven't heard the news yet, have you?

[identity profile] ria-oaks.livejournal.com 2009-02-09 04:34 am (UTC)(link)
What news?

Yeah, I'm pretty sure that episode will be a red herring... the name alone. ^^ I sincerely doubt they'd pull something like that, or they really WOULD have jumped the shark, so I'm sure they're just playing with us...

[identity profile] ria-oaks.livejournal.com 2009-02-09 04:34 am (UTC)(link)
I'll keep that in mind... should watch it someday, I know, but I've got so much shit to watch on my TiVo already. ^^;

[identity profile] bk635.livejournal.com 2009-02-09 04:36 am (UTC)(link)
You should record it anyway. I have a feeling that DVD-quality would ruin the movie. The TV broadcast is all hazy and dream-like, which adds to its atmosphere.

[identity profile] ria-oaks.livejournal.com 2009-02-09 04:38 am (UTC)(link)
Will do. ^^

[identity profile] bk635.livejournal.com 2009-02-09 04:39 am (UTC)(link)
This casting news is what I was referring to. Spoilers for Jump the Shark, I guess; but I think it's impossible to avoid..like finding out Sarah would come back to Prison Break this season. It's probably all over the fandom by now. So you may as well look. >.>

[identity profile] ria-oaks.livejournal.com 2009-02-09 04:47 am (UTC)(link)
Oh yeah, I knew that. :) Figured that's what we were talking about in regards to the episode hopefully being a red herring/the writers having some fun with us. ^^ And actually so far I've only seen it on that one site and linked on LJ once under a cut, so I don't think it's hugely all over the web yet... Even the Sarah spoiler wasn't everywhere until the summer, prob, and it was intially announced monthes earlier. It'll probably spread, though. Still, I in no way think that he'll actually be John's son... I really doubt the writers would do that.

[identity profile] bk635.livejournal.com 2009-02-09 04:50 am (UTC)(link)
I'm still undecided as to whether or not it's a bad thing.

But even if he is John's son, I doubt that he's a hunter, so I don't think we'll be seeing much of him. I don't think Sam and Dean would want to drag him into the shit they're going through. He might be living out a relatively normal and well-adjusted life.

[identity profile] ria-oaks.livejournal.com 2009-02-09 05:00 am (UTC)(link)
Yeah, if he IS John's son, hopefully it'll be just a one-off thing... it'll be interesting to see how the boys react, either way, considering the importance they attach to family. Hm. Anyway, still... can't really imagine them going down that route. Considering the episode's title, and just knowing the show in general, it really seems like they're just playing with us. Guess we'll see, though.

[identity profile] bk635.livejournal.com 2009-02-09 07:12 am (UTC)(link)
On the other hand, the episode's title might be a reference to them purposefully doing something that would normally cause a show to jump the shark, but in such a way that they would actually avoid jumping the shark.

And knowing this show's writers, they can probably pull it off. >.>

[identity profile] bk635.livejournal.com 2009-02-10 07:09 am (UTC)(link)
I have reading break next week, and I'm quite busy, but I want to do at least one thing any time during.

Start brainstorming.

[identity profile] ria-oaks.livejournal.com 2009-02-10 07:31 am (UTC)(link)
Heh, figures, the one week I'm coming out to UBC for 2 days (doctor's appts) and you won't be there. XD

Umm, lesse... well, I'll be in town Mon-Tues as aforementioned, so we could do something. Movie? Just... hanging out? And as usual, the invitation to come up here stands... Il'l be moving out at the end of the month, so last chance to come to my own place up here. :) (okay, it's not much to write home about, but...)

[identity profile] bk635.livejournal.com 2009-02-12 07:12 am (UTC)(link)
There might be a chance that I'll go to UBC next week. If I feel like it, I may do some work at Woodward library. But I don't have to, so I haven't decided if I'll go or not.

What time are your appointments, and how long would they last?

[identity profile] ria-oaks.livejournal.com 2009-02-12 07:17 am (UTC)(link)
They're on Mon/Tues at 1:30. Not sure how long... first time going to this guy (not even sure why I'm bothering, really, given that I'm leaving soon... but I've had the appt made for monthes. Not much point starting on a medication, though. oh well.)

[identity profile] bk635.livejournal.com 2009-02-12 07:44 am (UTC)(link)
Hm, I'll let you know.

Oh, doctor. I thought I read dentist. -_- Might be better to get something like that out of the way before going so you don't have to deal with it over there.

Don't you need like, vaccinations for Australia?

[identity profile] ria-oaks.livejournal.com 2009-02-12 04:49 pm (UTC)(link)
Mmkay.

Went to the dentist already and everything's fine, so that's good... this doctor's appt is for my Tourettes; I was referred by my last doctor when we ran out of things to try. ^^ Saw another guy (friend of my dad's who happens to be a psychologist) over the summer who worked on relaxation techniques with me which kind of help, but figured I might as well see this doctor as well (hell, it's Canada, and it's covered by MSP... might as well. ^^). Suppose I'll ask him about alternative treatments, or we could try another drug. I've tried most of the major ones, though, with no luck. And I can't even remember which ones I've tried, so... -_- Suppose I should contact my old doctors to ask them. bleh.

Dunno if I need any vaccinations. Possibly? But I mean, it's Australia, not the middle of Africa or something. ^^ Still, I plan to go to my regular doctor before leaving, so will find out. Mostly I figure I should learn first-aid for snake bites and shit. XD

[identity profile] bk635.livejournal.com 2009-02-12 05:11 pm (UTC)(link)
Haha, actually my ecology professor last year referred to Australia as the second Africa with regards to biodiversity.

The best remedy for venomous snake bites is pretty much immediate anti-venom injection or a trip to the ER. If neither is possible, then it's more likely that you'll just die, so it's best not to get bitten in the first place.

[identity profile] ria-oaks.livejournal.com 2009-02-12 05:31 pm (UTC)(link)
Heh, wow. Well, I can see that, but that doesn't necessarily translate into vaccinations - wouldn't that be more for disease and such? And crazy wildlife notwithstanding, it's a first world country...

Seems like sound advice to me. ;) Not planning on doing much/any trekking in the outback, so hopefully I'll be safe. o.o

[identity profile] bk635.livejournal.com 2009-02-13 02:02 am (UTC)(link)
Oh, no. I was just making a comparison regarding the fauna because you brought up Africa.

As far as vaccinations go, Australia's pretty clean, yeah. Just the standard tetanus and polio shots, and the occasionally recommended encephalitis.

I'd be more worried about spider bites, since they can get anywhere and can be aggressive, whereas snakes are more in the bush and timid.

http://www.usyd.edu.au/anaes/venom/spiders.html <- list of a few to watch out for; some are found in the areas you'll be staying. :p

[identity profile] ria-oaks.livejournal.com 2009-02-13 02:42 am (UTC)(link)
Yeah, I figured; just sayin'. :)

Yeah, I'll talk to the doctor, see what she recommends...

...thanks alot, see, how I'm terrified and don't want to go. *cries* Was kinda vaguely hoping that the giant ones were mostly, you know, in the wilderness... not in people's homes... oh god, I'm never gonna feel safe when I'm there. o.o Just looking at pictures of spiders freaks me out. I'm not even so much scared of getting bit as just seeing one, period. GAH.

[identity profile] bk635.livejournal.com 2009-02-13 03:17 am (UTC)(link)
Yeah, but at least now you know what to look out for. :p Every region has its own species of spiders that you need to be watchful for, like the black widow and brown recluse here and in the US, for instance.

It's better to recognize them rather than be all like "aw look how big and cute that funnel web is <3 oh shi..D:"

[identity profile] ria-oaks.livejournal.com 2009-02-13 03:56 am (UTC)(link)
I know, but that doesn't make me any less traumatized. XD Anyway, I don't think that many people per year actually die from spider/snake bites - I'm mostly just scared of seeing a big spider, poisonous or not (and evidently one of the more common is big but non-poisonous).

Also, this? It's better to recognize them rather than be all like "aw look how big and cute that funnel web is <3 oh shi..D:" would not be a problem for me. ;)

[identity profile] bk635.livejournal.com 2009-02-13 04:49 am (UTC)(link)
Do not under any circumstances visit these links:

http://www.upmyownass.com/giant-australian-spider-caught-on-camera-eating-bird/

http://www.breakitdownblog.com/spiders-scorpions-the-crawlies/

But you know you want to. The curiosity is just killing you.