FF ramblings

[ria_oaks]

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.

Comments

[bk635.livejournal.com]

Mm.. The first 5 minutes of this episode have probably been better than everything else this season. >.>

[ria-oaks.livejournal.com]

Wouldn't take much.

Though I confess I wasn't really paying attention. Got computer on bed with me and just got cruise confirmation number, at last, so am registering on the Carnival (cruise line) website. Yay.

I've watched far too much TV today. Spent the afternoon on the couch watching Scrubs and FNL. Heroes at 7. Now 2-hour PB. Laaazy bum. :)

[ria-oaks.livejournal.com]

We are ROCKING this thread tonight. :) Over 40 comments so far.

[ria-oaks.livejournal.com]

About 60 now... almost to 1100! :)

*random comment to up comment count*

[bk635.livejournal.com]

This is just embarassing.

[ria-oaks.livejournal.com]

*peers* What is? I just see Google's front page...

[bk635.livejournal.com]

Huh.. I guess one good thing to come out of the strike is that Prison Break is returning January 14th instead of sometime in the Spring.. But I wonder if that's its second half or the remainder of the Autumn-Winter season..

FOX's schedule rearrangements.

Looks like 24 won't be making it until after the strike.

I wonder how Supernatural will be affected; I haven't seen any mention of it in regards to the strike..

[ria-oaks.livejournal.com]

Not sure, that might just be the rest of the fall part of the season. Depends on the strike, I guess.

I imagine SPN will air the last 4-5 eps that have been filmed then go into reruns if necessary. Same as any other show, really - they're all being affected, after all.

[bk635.livejournal.com]

Good. It's time.

The sad thing, is that I've been looking forward to this, and only this, for the whole day. :\

[ria-oaks.livejournal.com]

Yeah, me too. First work, then painful workout at TKD (oh god the things he made us do with our legs..), now fun time! :)

And heh, when I saw that I had an email I just knew that it'd be you making the first SPN post. Thursday nights are fun. XD

[ria-oaks.livejournal.com]

Holy crap we've already built up a lot of comments tonight. Shall we go for 1200? :)

And damn, it's already 9:40? This ep's going fast.

[ria-oaks.livejournal.com]

Damn, 22 comments left until 1200... and the show's over. Guess we're not gonna get there tonight?

I think this ep of Seinfeld was on earlier. Wah. Guess I could watch my Grey's Anatomy tape...

[bk635.livejournal.com]

http://www.collegehumor.com/video:1788161

Some of this was funny.

[ria-oaks.livejournal.com]

Lol, amusing. "They've compromised our Geocities page!" Oh god, I remember Geocities... eeeveryone used it. Or at least everyone with no money used it. You could always tell which pages would be kinda crappy and badly put together because they were hosted on Geocities... Also LOL on dial-up internet and "the file's too large! It takes up three floppies!". Funny thing is, it wouldn't really be that long ago... only 6 years before the show actually started - shows how much things changed in those 6 years, because it was pretty accurate to what technology was like then. Even in 2000 it was fairy inadvanced compared to now, but you think of the jump from '94 to '00 or even '98 to '00, and it's huge. I remember those days so clearly, yet they weren't more than 10-odd years ago. Crazy.

[ria-oaks.livejournal.com]

Global commercial for PB - "the fall finale of Prison Break, this Monday!"

Well, fuck. Kinda knew that, but had forgotten. No new eps until January, then I think there are a few more filmed... just when I was getting back into it, too. :( Least SPN is still going for a few more weeks, I believe. Office ends next week too, I think, or maybe it was even this week. Waaah. Shortest TV season ever. -_- I wonder if, if the strike goes on 5+ monthes, they'll just end the seasons and have this season be a short one for every show? Or start up production again when it's done and end the seasons from say April-June/July? Sigh.

[bk635.livejournal.com]

Yeah, thefutoncritic link I posted above a while ago mentioned that it would be ending this Monday. It's pretty unfortunate, because the season was just getting interesting, finally.

FOX really pulled out early, though. Not 72 hours after the strike was confirmed, they rearranged their schedule. They even dropped the 7th season of 24; I don't think we'll be seeing it until 2009 now. Supernatural still has 5 or so more episodes to go, and then it will be off as per usual.

I think that if the strike is short, shows that are supposed to return in the Spring season will do so, but shows that were supposed to begin starting January will probably not; unless they are high-profile shows, in which case low-profile shows in the Spring may be replaced by them.

If the strike goes on for too long, filler programing will probably remain until the Summer, where the normal Summer season will pick up.

I'm a pretty patient person though. My main concern is the blow to the ratings that will be felt all across the board. I'm mainly concerned about Supernatural, really. It's doing well as far as The CW standards go, but I don't know if it could survive a 9-10% drop in viewership (TV audience went down that much in 1988). The network could very well drop the show and replace it with something fresh to temporarily increase their ratings. Prison Break too, isn't really that safe. Its ratings have been crap compared to the past seasons. With it being on FOX, that is already not good; a blow to the ratings from the strike? I don't want to go there.

[bk635.livejournal.com]

What's going on?

[ria-oaks.livejournal.com]

Watching Chuck on NBC and working on picture for yuletart. Very exciting.

Otherwise, doing nothing much this weekend. Long weekend (was off today), and heading to the Remembrance Day ceremony tomorrow morning. That's about it. Might come down Monday.

You?

[ria-oaks.livejournal.com]

Okay, wtf? I can't seem to download any torrents... they just stays at 0 and show no seeds or peers. I've tried 3 separate torrents. I downloaded one just a couple of weeks ago, so wtf? -__- Tried opening one in uTorrent thinking that maybe Azureus was being weird, and it says "no connection could be made because the target machine actively refused it" - bwuh? Is there some kind of logical reason for this? Is it a firewall or internet provider issue? Or what, is my IP address being blocked or some bullshit? Because I don't see why; I seed and everything... this is weird. :( And sucks, because I really want to download s5 of Scrubs and have no other way. May end up having to buy it when I go down to the US (no way in hell I'm buying it here - $42 CDN? It's $29 USD on Amazon.com and DVDPacific.com... and probably reasonably cheap at a proper store down there. But I can't say I particularly want to buy it... I dunno, maybe, but it's one of those shows that I just want to watch through properly once then catch randomly on TV all the time. Don't need to own it, because prob won't watch it on DVD again.

[ria-oaks.livejournal.com]

Okay wait, I've got one going now.. no download speed yet, but it lists peers and seeds and is green rather than red, so that's a start... but this is frustrating. ;__;

[ria-oaks.livejournal.com]

God I'm bored... wanna do something tomorrow? Like go see a movie? Or whatever. I dunno, I'm just bored... played some FFT which was fun, but now bored (it's amazing how that game has held up after 10 years... still ridiculously fun to play - plus I just got Cid!). I want to see Death at a Funeral... Tinseltown at 1:05 and 3:20. If you want, anyway. I dunno.

[(Anonymous)]

Incidently, I went to see the movie today w/ Mom and it's bloody hilarious. Worth checking out on DVD, I think. :) Classic British farce, very clever... and Alan is wonderful.

[bk635.livejournal.com]

What the hell is going on with the dollar? D:

[ria-oaks.livejournal.com]

Lol, I dunno, I haven't been at work to check the rate for the last few days. XD Has it gone back down? I hope not, because I want to buy some US cash tomorrow for my trip... better still be really good.

[ria-oaks.livejournal.com]

Fall finale time!

And I swear, this woman can't act... least not very well. In the hands of another actress this role could've actually been marginally interesting.

"What about Scofield?"
"Kill him."

Aaand the stakes are raised a bit more. I'm vaguely intrigued to know who Whistler really is and what he's doing with the Company.

[bk635.livejournal.com]

I read spoilers for the next few episodes on Wikipedia last week, and I wish I hadn't now. :/

[ria-oaks.livejournal.com]

So yeah, tomorrow... I don't really know. I'm free all day because Cecilia and I went out today (she's working tomorrow). Might go to an Irish pub with her (evidently Sara may be coming) in the evening, but free all day. Not sure what to do though. ^^ We could get a movie from Dial-a-Movie, I suppose. Wish I had my DVDs down here, but oh well... don't think I want to go too far afield; it's wet and disgusting out there, for one thing...

[bk635.livejournal.com]

Meh, it's up to you. I can't really think of anything around here either, and I'm not really in the mood for a movie, since we did that last time. I was kind of hoping we could get together during the evening so that I could work on my lab reports during the day, since Friday evening TVs are very distracting. But if you prefer to go the that pub thing then that's ok.

[ria-oaks.livejournal.com]

Aand it's time. :)

Gordon ep, eh... huh. Well, the writers have said that this would be a really good ep, so we'll see. )

[ria-oaks.livejournal.com]

ANITCHRIST OH YES

[bk635.livejournal.com]

Distract me.

[ria-oaks.livejournal.com]

I just posted a long thing about last night's SPN, you can read that.. it's not the glowing happy happy squeeing reviews that everyone else on LJ is doing though, so if you loved it be warned. ;) I mean, I liked it fine, but for some reason it didn't resonate with me very much. Some parts did, but other parts left me feeling cold while everyone else online was squeeing. heh. I feel sad and left out. :(

How're you feeling about tonight?

[ria-oaks.livejournal.com]

Sarah Michelle Gellar's changed her name (http://www.whedon.info/Sarah-Michelle-Gellar-changes-her.html).

Oh Sarah. *sigh* Why? I don't understand it, I honest to god just don't... Any man who would actually want that as a "5 year anniversary present"... not someone I'd want to marry, frankly. Why the hell would someone want to own me like that? This isn't the fucking 17th century anymore. Wonder what a guy would say if I asked him to change him name. Probably "uhh, why would I?" To which I'd say "see how I feel?"

*rant*

[ria-oaks.livejournal.com]

Well that was fucked up. o.o

[bk635.livejournal.com]

I'd rather just forget about it. I had fun at first, but it became awkard (because of the seating) and then just ended badly.

I'm interested in checking out that pub by the hotel; it might be a nice and quiet place to hang out whenever you're down here (rather than one of our houses, for a change). Hopefully it won't have some drunk guy running his fingers up and down some woman's ass right next to me. >.>

[ria-oaks.livejournal.com]

Anyways, so you still up for a movie today? I'm heading out to Superstore right now, but will be back by say 1... if you haven't replied by then, guess I'll just give you a call - I assume you'll be up? XD We can probably find something at Dial a Movie... I dislike their new premises though, they're too small. :(

[ria-oaks.livejournal.com]

*pokes* Yo, I've called twice... where are you? :(

[bk635.livejournal.com]

Here's the thing I was talking about yesterday in the car - about NBC laying off pretty much every below-the-line employee on the Office.

I can't say that I've been oblivious to the effects on all personnel this strike has, but I never really cared until I read that post. All it just does is make me wish this strike was over faster, because it affects so many people. If 102 employees were laid off for one show, then how many are out of work when taking all affected shows into consideration?

[ria-oaks.livejournal.com]

Aren't you supposed to be working? XD

Man oh man. Did you read the comments there? Some of the blatant stupidity is making my brain bleed. ;_; Anyway though, I feel for both sides and I wish that they'd stop arguing and support each other. And I do wish that the effect of the strike on the 'below the line' workers would be more publicized and that people would support them as well (ie the actors raising money for the writers... shouldn't they be doing the same for all the other people who are going to be out of work?) I dunno, it's one big fucking mess. I believe in what the writers are doing and I think that this strike is important for the future of the entertainment industry (for all parties involved), but I also feel strongly for the many many people being put out of work. Reading all those comments, I barely know what to believe anymore. o.o Everyone's saying something different and contradicting each other; it's a pain in the fucking ass.

Anyway, at least the studios have agreed to return to the negotiating table, so that's a good start. Might still take a long time, but at least they're back in negotiations.

[bk635.livejournal.com]

Mm.. I just got up a little while ago. I see you've already tried calling.. I don't think I'm up for the pub tonight, but movie is fine.. just a little later.. ~5ish?

[ria-oaks.livejournal.com]

Maybe after dinner would be better? Since I'll be having dinner ~6... so either, say, 3 or ~7.

[ria-oaks.livejournal.com]

Fuck. I was all excited about Prison Break and didn't remember that it's off for the next two monthes until about one minute to 8. Am sad now. :( Least I get to watch Chuck though, I guess...

And goddammit I swear I need to get out of this house and live on my own before I go batshit insane. I never get to be alone around here, because someone is always home... and always bugging me to fix the fucking VCR or their computer or whatever. I'm sick to death of being the only person who knows how to do this stuff; what are they going to do when I move out, call me and ask me to come over? *eyeroll*

Mostly I just want to be left alone at home for a few hours. *sigh* I can't watch TV or do anything in peace without people constantly talking around me. *grumblerantwhine*

[ria-oaks.livejournal.com]

http://www.tv.com/story/10462.html?tag=recent;featured;more;0&om_act=convert&om_clk=gumballs

Oh my. o.o And James Marsters is in it??

[ria-oaks.livejournal.com]

Yo, what's up? Haven't heard from you all week. Been busy? Anyway, I'm done in N Van all weekend if you want to do something. :) We could go out to that pub tomorrow night if you want.

[bk635.livejournal.com]

Been a while since I posted in this thread. Hopefully it'll get another batch of replies this Thursday.

How did the hospital-thing go?

[ria-oaks.livejournal.com]

I know eh? We must revive it! And hell yeah, SPN this Thursday! Most of my other shows are over (Heroes... sob.) or on hiatus (House, PB), so I need something to look forward to. o.o

Pretty well. 4 hours, start to finish. Treatment took a grand total of maybe 30 minutes, for both the nail and the drugs/Tetanus shot after. The rest was... waiting. Started re-reading The Golden Compass in preparation for next week. :) Anyway, he numbed my finger completely then took a pair of scissors to it. o.o Cut off part of my nail, then dug in and scrapped all the paint off. Kinda fascinating to watch, really, cuz I couldn't feel a thing. Big chunk of paint came out. o.o Then the nurse put a big sock-like white bandage thing on my finger, gave me a Tetanus shot just in case, and drugged me with Tylenol 3 and antibiotics. Fun fun. :) Took another T3 at 7 and it knocked me right out for 2 hours. Dragged myself out of bed and am feeling more awake now, but going back to sleep soon. Finger hurts when it's touched, much more now than it did before they took it out. -_- But it had to be done, really; couldn't risk it getting infected. Hopefully the nail will grow back soon. Arm also aches from the shot...

On another note - you okay with switching the party from Metrotown to downtown (Burrard theatre)? Jane says it's easier for her for parking, and it's closer for me from the ferry. I'm thinking dinner at ~5:30 and movie at 7:15 or 7:45. We can still go shopping first, at Pacific Centre/HMV/Futureshop/Chapters/etc. Lots of stuff downtown. Will probably raid the DVD sections, see if they have Farscape 3.1 (recently ordered all of s2 and 3.2/3.3, but 3.1 was sold out. ;_;) They average $25 each (though I got them online for $12 USD each, lol, plus a flat rate of $9 for all 5 for shipping. I know I shouldn't have... but such a good deal. ^_^). Also need s1, which is hard to find now, and eventually s4, which I'll prob get for X-Mas. Then I'll have it all! :) And whenever/if ever you decide to watch them, you're welcome to borrow the proper DVDs instead if you'd prefer. Better quality, can watch them on your shiny bigscreen, etc. (and I can sneak over for some of it, lol)

Anyways, let me know if that works. Lesse, I get the 3:00 ferry, over in HSB at 3:30, downtown by... hmm. ~4:15, so we can shop for an hour then have dinner. You okay with that?