Apologies for Charlie Chaplin dressed as Hitler midway through it. I didn't make this, it's ripped from YouTube =P
That is all.
Baker =]
Sunday, 30 September 2012
Motivation for University
I know I just posted earlier, but I just remembered that we got shown this video in Physics when we were trying to put a man on Mars (long story). I thought that, if you ever feel like you can't carry on at Uni, or if you ever feel unmotivated in anything, then you should watch this and it can't help but keep you going.
5 Ways to Live Through Freshers Week
Hey guys!
So, I was going to make this in video form, but I really can't build up enough enthusiasm this weekend to set up my camera. Maybe if people enjoy it enough on here, I'll rethink and YouTube it.
Basically, having lived through the adventure that is Freshers Week, I thought I should give some pointers to people about to experience it (Jake, I'm looking straight at Durham right now) as to what you should do towards surviving it. Seriously, the chaoticness of this thing makes a zombie apocalypse look like a day out at Alton Towers.
... Did I just invent a word? "Chaoticness"? If so, I copyright it here and now =P
So, without further ado, here are my top tips to surviving Fresher's Week:
1) Never, ever, EVER be yourself.
This might sound weird to some people, especially as it goes against the things your parents have told you from day one. But, if you have managed to get into Uni, you're more than likely a straight-talking, academically-inclined, intelligent, efficient and, most importantly, generally sober person.
Yeah, first things first, execute this person from your personality. Or at least put them in solitary confinement for a week.
Cos in Freshers Week, your personality amp has to be turned up to 10. You have to unleash the unchained rabid animal, the self-appointed sex god and the raving mad drunkard that, deep down, you always knew you were. Because this week, anything goes.
Except murder, we found that out from experience. Oh, and sleep. You will NOT get enough sleep.
B) Meet everyone.
This is crucial. Don't talk to just the people on your hallway, talk to people on other hallways, talk to the people in the other halls, in the classrooms, on the street (unless they're asking for sponsorships for charities, they aren't interested in which degree you're doing).
Furthermore, you will ask these three questions more than you have ever said any phrase ever. Even YOLO.
"What's your name?"
"What course are you studying?"
"What is the airspeed velocity of an unladen swallow?" (Seriously, you'd be surprised how many people don't know)
III) Free things are good.
During Freshers Week, a lot of free things will be offered to you. TAKE THEM ALL. Honestly, I have around 4 leaflets about cervical cancer that some student rep was just handing out. Sucker.
However, there will also be a lot of subscriptions and things to pay for. These will do nothing for your student loans, and unless your dad is Mr Monopoly, you aren't made of money, so don't be tempted. Who needs accomodation insurance, healthcare or cheaper food anyway?
Vier) Know how many people are with you.
This is more an anecdote of mine. So we go to a club one night, and the price on the door is £4 entry. Ending up at the back of the group, I hand over a ten pound note to pay for myself.
Now, the more mathematically-astute, or pretty much anyone who has ever handled money ever, will be able to work out that the right amount of change is £6. I get given £2.
... Wait, what?
Turning back to the girl behind the till, I say (well, shout, it is a club after all) that my change is £4 short. She tells me that, in fact, no it isn't, and would the two of us please go inside to keep the queue moving.
... ... Wait, WHAT?!
Either I've spawned an extra person without my knowledge, or there's someone behind me getting in for free. Sure enough, the girl behind me, who only knows that I've paid for her to get in free, pretty much goes wild and hugs me in thanks.
Her 6' 7" boyfriend is not so understanding. Oh dear, time to leave.
In short (which I was compared to this monster the girl had brought out with her), I paid £8 to get into a club that, actually, I never really got into in the first place.
(Actually, I did clear it up with the two of them as a misunderstanding at the till, and the guy bought me a drink to make up for it. Which I then handed straight to my flatmate who had beaten me at poker the night before. Whole other story.)
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (Book 5)) Pack light.
This isn't school anymore. If that fire alarm goes off, you don't lose your lunch, a Batman pencil case and a few Biros, you lose an entire room of booze, books, food, booze, clothes, games, booze, booze and booze. So you want your entire student life to be small enough to be able to fit into a few, easy to carry bags and boxes, and just enough stuff so that you can scramble, stuff and pack it away BEFORE the fire starts to singe your eyebrows.
Plus, rollercoasters don't let you take lots of bags on them. And trust me, University is definately a rollercoaster.
Cheesy ending, but so what, this is me we're talking about, I'm nothing if not cheesy.
Wait, that sounded bad. I'm gonna re-write this. Now, do I push the publish button to delete some of the text or-
So, I was going to make this in video form, but I really can't build up enough enthusiasm this weekend to set up my camera. Maybe if people enjoy it enough on here, I'll rethink and YouTube it.
Basically, having lived through the adventure that is Freshers Week, I thought I should give some pointers to people about to experience it (Jake, I'm looking straight at Durham right now) as to what you should do towards surviving it. Seriously, the chaoticness of this thing makes a zombie apocalypse look like a day out at Alton Towers.
... Did I just invent a word? "Chaoticness"? If so, I copyright it here and now =P
So, without further ado, here are my top tips to surviving Fresher's Week:
1) Never, ever, EVER be yourself.
This might sound weird to some people, especially as it goes against the things your parents have told you from day one. But, if you have managed to get into Uni, you're more than likely a straight-talking, academically-inclined, intelligent, efficient and, most importantly, generally sober person.
Yeah, first things first, execute this person from your personality. Or at least put them in solitary confinement for a week.
Cos in Freshers Week, your personality amp has to be turned up to 10. You have to unleash the unchained rabid animal, the self-appointed sex god and the raving mad drunkard that, deep down, you always knew you were. Because this week, anything goes.
Except murder, we found that out from experience. Oh, and sleep. You will NOT get enough sleep.
B) Meet everyone.
This is crucial. Don't talk to just the people on your hallway, talk to people on other hallways, talk to the people in the other halls, in the classrooms, on the street (unless they're asking for sponsorships for charities, they aren't interested in which degree you're doing).
Furthermore, you will ask these three questions more than you have ever said any phrase ever. Even YOLO.
"What's your name?"
"What course are you studying?"
"What is the airspeed velocity of an unladen swallow?" (Seriously, you'd be surprised how many people don't know)
III) Free things are good.
During Freshers Week, a lot of free things will be offered to you. TAKE THEM ALL. Honestly, I have around 4 leaflets about cervical cancer that some student rep was just handing out. Sucker.
However, there will also be a lot of subscriptions and things to pay for. These will do nothing for your student loans, and unless your dad is Mr Monopoly, you aren't made of money, so don't be tempted. Who needs accomodation insurance, healthcare or cheaper food anyway?
Vier) Know how many people are with you.
This is more an anecdote of mine. So we go to a club one night, and the price on the door is £4 entry. Ending up at the back of the group, I hand over a ten pound note to pay for myself.
Now, the more mathematically-astute, or pretty much anyone who has ever handled money ever, will be able to work out that the right amount of change is £6. I get given £2.
... Wait, what?
Turning back to the girl behind the till, I say (well, shout, it is a club after all) that my change is £4 short. She tells me that, in fact, no it isn't, and would the two of us please go inside to keep the queue moving.
... ... Wait, WHAT?!
Either I've spawned an extra person without my knowledge, or there's someone behind me getting in for free. Sure enough, the girl behind me, who only knows that I've paid for her to get in free, pretty much goes wild and hugs me in thanks.
Her 6' 7" boyfriend is not so understanding. Oh dear, time to leave.
In short (which I was compared to this monster the girl had brought out with her), I paid £8 to get into a club that, actually, I never really got into in the first place.
(Actually, I did clear it up with the two of them as a misunderstanding at the till, and the guy bought me a drink to make up for it. Which I then handed straight to my flatmate who had beaten me at poker the night before. Whole other story.)
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (Book 5)) Pack light.
This isn't school anymore. If that fire alarm goes off, you don't lose your lunch, a Batman pencil case and a few Biros, you lose an entire room of booze, books, food, booze, clothes, games, booze, booze and booze. So you want your entire student life to be small enough to be able to fit into a few, easy to carry bags and boxes, and just enough stuff so that you can scramble, stuff and pack it away BEFORE the fire starts to singe your eyebrows.
Plus, rollercoasters don't let you take lots of bags on them. And trust me, University is definately a rollercoaster.
Cheesy ending, but so what, this is me we're talking about, I'm nothing if not cheesy.
Wait, that sounded bad. I'm gonna re-write this. Now, do I push the publish button to delete some of the text or-
Saturday, 29 September 2012
Fresher's week: Day 1
Well... here I am. I'm at Durham.
But before I get into that, here's a picture of me with the Grey college mascot.
That's a phoenix, not a chicken by the way.
But yeah, after arriving at the college at 9AM, I was greeted by "cheerleaders" and this monstrosity. This set an interesting tone for the rest of the day.
Afterwards I went to my new room and unpacked all my stuff. This is the result.
I'm aware this isn't a very informative photo, but it's stupidly hard to get the whole room in one picture. This'll do.
I've spoken to everyone else in my corridor at least a little bit. They all seem like an incredibly nice bunch. None however are doing my subjects, although I have spoken to people outside my block who are. Also, I have found fellow Dr.Who fans. Hopefully we shall be watching tonight's episode! :D
We were forced to take part in a group session together by the floor representatives, playing various games to learn each other's names. It wasn't as cringe-worthily horrible as it sounds and I actually had proper fun with it.
The Durham "parenting system" in which everyone is assigned a "mother" and a "father" has failed me currently, as my parents have yet to get in touch with me. I'm an orphan. An unloved orphan. :(
That's all I can really give right now, dinner should be soon which is good because I'm absolutely starving. I'm feeling okay right now emotionally, but that might be because none of this has really hit me yet. I'll let you guys know.
Until tomorrow.
Jake
But before I get into that, here's a picture of me with the Grey college mascot.
That's a phoenix, not a chicken by the way.
But yeah, after arriving at the college at 9AM, I was greeted by "cheerleaders" and this monstrosity. This set an interesting tone for the rest of the day.
Afterwards I went to my new room and unpacked all my stuff. This is the result.
I'm aware this isn't a very informative photo, but it's stupidly hard to get the whole room in one picture. This'll do.
I've spoken to everyone else in my corridor at least a little bit. They all seem like an incredibly nice bunch. None however are doing my subjects, although I have spoken to people outside my block who are. Also, I have found fellow Dr.Who fans. Hopefully we shall be watching tonight's episode! :D
We were forced to take part in a group session together by the floor representatives, playing various games to learn each other's names. It wasn't as cringe-worthily horrible as it sounds and I actually had proper fun with it.
The Durham "parenting system" in which everyone is assigned a "mother" and a "father" has failed me currently, as my parents have yet to get in touch with me. I'm an orphan. An unloved orphan. :(
That's all I can really give right now, dinner should be soon which is good because I'm absolutely starving. I'm feeling okay right now emotionally, but that might be because none of this has really hit me yet. I'll let you guys know.
Until tomorrow.
Jake
Thursday, 27 September 2012
Tomorrow.
Tomorrow, I'm leaving for Durham.
Tomorrow.
I still haven't quite processed that.
Tomorrow, I'll be leaving the city I have lived in for my entire life, the city I was born and raised in, the city where I met every single one of my friends (that's you awesome guys by the way). I'll be living without my parents in a new strange place for eleven whole weeks. Tomorrow, this all begins.
The words "Holy Shit" don't quite manage to adequately describe how I'm feeling right now, but they come pretty damn close.
For reference, freshers week doesn't actually start until Saturday, but considering how early in the morning they expect me to be there, I'm going tomorrow.
Tomorrow.
Holy Shit.
Jake
P.S Starting Saturday, I'll be making a huge effort to post every single day of freshers week with updates on what's going on. Or just what I can remember of it when I wake up from a night of partying. You have been warned.
Tomorrow.
I still haven't quite processed that.
Tomorrow, I'll be leaving the city I have lived in for my entire life, the city I was born and raised in, the city where I met every single one of my friends (that's you awesome guys by the way). I'll be living without my parents in a new strange place for eleven whole weeks. Tomorrow, this all begins.
The words "Holy Shit" don't quite manage to adequately describe how I'm feeling right now, but they come pretty damn close.
For reference, freshers week doesn't actually start until Saturday, but considering how early in the morning they expect me to be there, I'm going tomorrow.
Tomorrow.
Holy Shit.
Jake
P.S Starting Saturday, I'll be making a huge effort to post every single day of freshers week with updates on what's going on. Or just what I can remember of it when I wake up from a night of partying. You have been warned.
Tuesday, 25 September 2012
William Playfair
From Wikipedia: "William Playfair (22 September 1759 – 11 February 1823) was a Scottish engineer and political economist, the founder of graphical methods of statistics."
Had fun reading that? READ IT AGAIN. Look, "the founder of graphical methods of statistics"!!!
"William Playfair invented four types of diagrams: in 1786 the line graph and bar chart of economic data, and in 1801 the pie chart and circle graph"
Exactly.
For anyone who's ever done A-Level Physics, think back to the countless pointless graphs you had to draw again and again of this and that. Or for everyone, think back to GCSE and lower school, the countless pie charts, bar charts, line graphs and so on! DO YOU REMEMBER THESE?
I elect we build a time machine and travel back in time (Terminator) and prevent this from ever happening. Sure, it may ruin science and maths as we know them, but surely that's worth it?
I write this post in sheer frustration as I redraw a graph for Chemistry for the fifth time.
Thanks, Will.
Matt.
From Wikipedia: "William Playfair (22 September 1759 – 11 February 1823) was a Scottish engineer and political economist, the founder of graphical methods of statistics."
Had fun reading that? READ IT AGAIN. Look, "the founder of graphical methods of statistics"!!!
"William Playfair invented four types of diagrams: in 1786 the line graph and bar chart of economic data, and in 1801 the pie chart and circle graph"
Exactly.
For anyone who's ever done A-Level Physics, think back to the countless pointless graphs you had to draw again and again of this and that. Or for everyone, think back to GCSE and lower school, the countless pie charts, bar charts, line graphs and so on! DO YOU REMEMBER THESE?
I elect we build a time machine and travel back in time (Terminator) and prevent this from ever happening. Sure, it may ruin science and maths as we know them, but surely that's worth it?
I write this post in sheer frustration as I redraw a graph for Chemistry for the fifth time.
Thanks, Will.
Matt.
Sunday, 23 September 2012
Chinese food!!
As a sort of farewell thing, I went to my grandparents house this evening. We ordered takeaway Chinese food. The problem I have with Chinese food, is that my eyes tend to grow significantly larger than my stomach. How can something as strange as Calamari (fried squid for those not in the know) taste so damn GOOD?!
Naturally I shovelled as much of the stuff into my mouth as fast as I could, and right now I'm paying the price. My stomach feels like it's trying to force it's way out of my body. Hooray.
After the gorging, I tried on some of my Granddad's old dinner jacket's. Because apparently I need one for Durham. That's what happens when you go to a "posh" university, you're expected to be all "formal" occasionally.
A "proper" post will be coming relatively soon. Just can't be bothered right now. XD
Hope you're all doing well.
Jake
Naturally I shovelled as much of the stuff into my mouth as fast as I could, and right now I'm paying the price. My stomach feels like it's trying to force it's way out of my body. Hooray.
After the gorging, I tried on some of my Granddad's old dinner jacket's. Because apparently I need one for Durham. That's what happens when you go to a "posh" university, you're expected to be all "formal" occasionally.
A "proper" post will be coming relatively soon. Just can't be bothered right now. XD
Hope you're all doing well.
Jake
Wednesday, 19 September 2012
Yu-Gi-Ohz of the Stokachu Post #1
Yes there is only me and Baker who will understand this but wat the hell im gonna do this XD
SO
My fist review shall be le Sept 1st banlist... LETS DO DIS!!
We're a few weeks into the new format and on Sept 1st there was the Torronto YCS:
1st: Wind-Ups
2nd: Grandsoil Psychics
This was the first tournament win for Wind-Ups because AT LAST there are no freaking inzektors. The psychics are insane. ive tested the deck a little and its incredibly complex and innovative. Anyway now to the banlist =P
The changes were as follows:
Banned (0):
Brionac, Dragon of the Ice Barrier
Future Fusion
Limited (1):
Chaos Sorcerer
Inzektor Dragonfly
Inzektor Hornet
Red-Eyes Darkness Metal Dragon
Spore
Tsukuomi
Evigishki Gustkraken
Wind-Up Carrier Zenmaity
Ultimate Offering
Semi-Limited (2):
Blackwing - Kalut the Moon Shadow
Debris Dragon
Rescue Rabbit
The Agent of Mystery - Earth
Tour Guide from the Underworld
A Hero Lives
E - Emergency Call
Hieratic Seal of Convocation
Pot of Duality
Reasoning
Mirror Force
Unlimited (3):
Marshmallon
Necro Gardna
Destiny Draw
Emergency Teleport
Level Limit - Area B
Swords of Revealing Light
Magic Cylinder
OKIE DOKE
discussion tiem!
So for the Banned cards.
Brionac - They HAD to give him an OTK to get him banned! It doesn't really bother me but the extra deck seems a little lacking without him...
Future Fusion - With the new chaos dragons and the heroes increasing in capability, FF was becoming a little broken. Since heroes won the Japanese Nats, it was time for it to go.
Limited
Chaos Sorcerer - To be honest, it was stupid to bring him to 2 all the way back 3 formats let alone 3. someone fianlly had the sence to put him where he should be at 1 with BLS. Chaos dragons were becoming stupid with 3 Light pulsar, 3 Darkflare, 3 chaos sorcerer and BLS all of which are easily special summoned. Its a rediculusly splashable card too. last format with inzektors and tour guide in abundance it was common sence to run 3 tour guide, 1 sangan and 3 effect veiler and use them with BLS then maybe some Chaos sorcs. Im happy he's back where he should be.
Inzektor Dragonfly/Hornet - THANK. GOD. FOR. BANLISTS. The shouldve gone when they were first released. 1st turn goes "herp derp +4 end WATCHYA GON DOO?!?!!?" which is game winning. With all the previously released rank 3 XYZ monsters it was topping all tournaments with little hardship, where again heroes were previailing over them (winning Japanese Nats against inzektors and Rabbit builds). Thank God they're an almost dead deck.
Red-Eyes Darkness Metal Dragon - I'm not too sure if this is a good idea. With Chaos sorc being limited the chaos dragons have been hit enough. I think it would be better at 2 but i have no experience with or against them so I have no idea.
Spore - Should never have got banned. It was only broken because of Glow-up Bulb. End of.
Tsukuomi - I really don't know what Konami are doing with this. It's been a while since it was legal and the game has changed phenominally in that time but its a really good card. Quite a lot of cards now have high ATK and low DEF so summon Tuskuomi, flip something down, ram over it, return to hand, rince and repeat. Its nice against Wind-Up Zenmaines but nothing else in the current meta comes to mind that its good against.
Evigishki Gustkraken - Well its retarded... AND it has an OTK... what the hell are Konami smoking when they make these cards... cos i want some XD. If it stops the OTK by putting it at 1 im happy.
Wind-Up Carrier Zenmaity - Going to 1 stops the hand loop which is good and i do think that this is a really broken card. Say you have Wind-Up Shark in grave, Tour Guide in hand with 3 Wind-Up Rat in deck, go Tour Guide -> Tour Guide -> Overlay to Zenmaity -> Special Rat from deck -> Rat eff special shark -> overlay Zenmaity... repeat till you have 3 Zenmaity and another rank 3 on the field for having just 1 card in hand... +3 FTW If you have any Wind-Up Factory... good game...
Ultimate Offering - I think this is a good move. With Gadgets still around and Photon Sabre Tigers being quite common this meta, Ulti Offering can become quite destructive. The life point cost is quite low for what it can do so yes... good move Konami.
Semis:
Blackwing - Kalut the Moon Shadow - HORAY BLACKWINGS ARE COMING BACK =D. This pleases me =P
Debris Dragon - I think this is good. Plant synchro have had their day and are slowly dying out as the XYZs come in but with Spore back and Debris back I think that people may find some new innovative ways of exploiting them. All i have to say on the matter is MECHA BUNNY!! We may see Junk Chaos Plant Synchro... maybe XD
Rescue Rabbit - Again this should've got hit when it came out. In Japan the VerzRabbit is the best Rabbit variant and here it was DinoRabbit. Both needed slowing at least. Its a great card that like Tour Guide can allow for so many plays but unlike tourguide will take up just less than 1/4 of the deck to run properly. Its been put where is shoudld be.
The Agent of Mystery - Earth - Yep again something that wasn't powerful enough to deserve to be at 1. Its a necessity in Fairy/Agent decks but isn't broken. Back where it should be.
Tour Guide of the Underworld - I personally think tour guide doesn't deserve to be at 2. It's fine at 3. Yes it is usable in every deck at least to some degree but its limited. You have 3 choices really; go into a beatstick (Acid Golem/Leviathan Dragon), a defender (Zenmaies) or a summoner (Zenmaity/Leviair) and thats all. its always benefical and thins the deck but with it being so splashable, both players can use it equally. With her at 2 she's been slowed but not dead.
A Hero Lives/E - Emergency Call - Both hit because of heroes winning the Japanese nationals. In a way its fair but a little irritating none the less speaking as a mega hero player =P
Heiratic Seal of Convocation - I have no idea of what Heiratic dragons are capable of so no comments here (except this one =P).
Pot of Duality - I never thought this would get hit. Almost every deck uses it and the drawbacks of the card are turn-wasting. I think it should've stayed at 3.
Reasoning - I'm genuinely supprised at this. I thought it would stay at 1. At least they left Monster Gate at 1. Im interested for what this will do the current meta.
Mirror Force - Well shit... I can't believe this happened. They get rid of inzektors, THEN bring in even more heavy monster destruction... gonna have to watch out for more Starlight Road and The Huge Revolution is Over. I don't like this XD
Unlimited:
Marshmallon - It's worse than Spirit Reaper in most circumstances so I didn't understand why they sent Reaper to 3 when this was still at 1 (I think)
Necro Gardna - Lightsworns are dying out like plant synchro so this may bring them back a little.. i dunno... lets see how this pans out =P
Destiny Draw - Konami, please give me whatever magical thing it is you're smoking... DESTINY HERO - DIAMOND DUDE!! honestly it's bad enough without 3 D - Draw... daft idea =P
Emergency Teleport - Welcome back TeleDAD! I cant remember what that deck actually does but it uses this and it's good =P its not a bad choice I don't think.
Level Limit - Area B/Swords of Revealing Light - Wow... Konami are really promoting the XYZs. I can see stall decks being a pain in the arse this format...
Magic Cylinder - I've contemplated siding these... its quite rediculous with all the 2500ATK+ beaters out there currently.
SO THERE YOU HAVE IT
My opinion on the banlist. To finish I'll say that this is the most ballanced format in years THANK YOU KONAMI!!... I don't say that very often =P
Stokachu =3
SO
My fist review shall be le Sept 1st banlist... LETS DO DIS!!
We're a few weeks into the new format and on Sept 1st there was the Torronto YCS:
1st: Wind-Ups
2nd: Grandsoil Psychics
This was the first tournament win for Wind-Ups because AT LAST there are no freaking inzektors. The psychics are insane. ive tested the deck a little and its incredibly complex and innovative. Anyway now to the banlist =P
The changes were as follows:
Banned (0):
Brionac, Dragon of the Ice Barrier
Future Fusion
Limited (1):
Chaos Sorcerer
Inzektor Dragonfly
Inzektor Hornet
Red-Eyes Darkness Metal Dragon
Spore
Tsukuomi
Evigishki Gustkraken
Wind-Up Carrier Zenmaity
Ultimate Offering
Semi-Limited (2):
Blackwing - Kalut the Moon Shadow
Debris Dragon
Rescue Rabbit
The Agent of Mystery - Earth
Tour Guide from the Underworld
A Hero Lives
E - Emergency Call
Hieratic Seal of Convocation
Pot of Duality
Reasoning
Mirror Force
Unlimited (3):
Marshmallon
Necro Gardna
Destiny Draw
Emergency Teleport
Level Limit - Area B
Swords of Revealing Light
Magic Cylinder
OKIE DOKE
discussion tiem!
So for the Banned cards.
Brionac - They HAD to give him an OTK to get him banned! It doesn't really bother me but the extra deck seems a little lacking without him...
Future Fusion - With the new chaos dragons and the heroes increasing in capability, FF was becoming a little broken. Since heroes won the Japanese Nats, it was time for it to go.
Limited
Chaos Sorcerer - To be honest, it was stupid to bring him to 2 all the way back 3 formats let alone 3. someone fianlly had the sence to put him where he should be at 1 with BLS. Chaos dragons were becoming stupid with 3 Light pulsar, 3 Darkflare, 3 chaos sorcerer and BLS all of which are easily special summoned. Its a rediculusly splashable card too. last format with inzektors and tour guide in abundance it was common sence to run 3 tour guide, 1 sangan and 3 effect veiler and use them with BLS then maybe some Chaos sorcs. Im happy he's back where he should be.
Inzektor Dragonfly/Hornet - THANK. GOD. FOR. BANLISTS. The shouldve gone when they were first released. 1st turn goes "herp derp +4 end WATCHYA GON DOO?!?!!?" which is game winning. With all the previously released rank 3 XYZ monsters it was topping all tournaments with little hardship, where again heroes were previailing over them (winning Japanese Nats against inzektors and Rabbit builds). Thank God they're an almost dead deck.
Red-Eyes Darkness Metal Dragon - I'm not too sure if this is a good idea. With Chaos sorc being limited the chaos dragons have been hit enough. I think it would be better at 2 but i have no experience with or against them so I have no idea.
Spore - Should never have got banned. It was only broken because of Glow-up Bulb. End of.
Tsukuomi - I really don't know what Konami are doing with this. It's been a while since it was legal and the game has changed phenominally in that time but its a really good card. Quite a lot of cards now have high ATK and low DEF so summon Tuskuomi, flip something down, ram over it, return to hand, rince and repeat. Its nice against Wind-Up Zenmaines but nothing else in the current meta comes to mind that its good against.
Evigishki Gustkraken - Well its retarded... AND it has an OTK... what the hell are Konami smoking when they make these cards... cos i want some XD. If it stops the OTK by putting it at 1 im happy.
Wind-Up Carrier Zenmaity - Going to 1 stops the hand loop which is good and i do think that this is a really broken card. Say you have Wind-Up Shark in grave, Tour Guide in hand with 3 Wind-Up Rat in deck, go Tour Guide -> Tour Guide -> Overlay to Zenmaity -> Special Rat from deck -> Rat eff special shark -> overlay Zenmaity... repeat till you have 3 Zenmaity and another rank 3 on the field for having just 1 card in hand... +3 FTW If you have any Wind-Up Factory... good game...
Ultimate Offering - I think this is a good move. With Gadgets still around and Photon Sabre Tigers being quite common this meta, Ulti Offering can become quite destructive. The life point cost is quite low for what it can do so yes... good move Konami.
Semis:
Blackwing - Kalut the Moon Shadow - HORAY BLACKWINGS ARE COMING BACK =D. This pleases me =P
Debris Dragon - I think this is good. Plant synchro have had their day and are slowly dying out as the XYZs come in but with Spore back and Debris back I think that people may find some new innovative ways of exploiting them. All i have to say on the matter is MECHA BUNNY!! We may see Junk Chaos Plant Synchro... maybe XD
Rescue Rabbit - Again this should've got hit when it came out. In Japan the VerzRabbit is the best Rabbit variant and here it was DinoRabbit. Both needed slowing at least. Its a great card that like Tour Guide can allow for so many plays but unlike tourguide will take up just less than 1/4 of the deck to run properly. Its been put where is shoudld be.
The Agent of Mystery - Earth - Yep again something that wasn't powerful enough to deserve to be at 1. Its a necessity in Fairy/Agent decks but isn't broken. Back where it should be.
Tour Guide of the Underworld - I personally think tour guide doesn't deserve to be at 2. It's fine at 3. Yes it is usable in every deck at least to some degree but its limited. You have 3 choices really; go into a beatstick (Acid Golem/Leviathan Dragon), a defender (Zenmaies) or a summoner (Zenmaity/Leviair) and thats all. its always benefical and thins the deck but with it being so splashable, both players can use it equally. With her at 2 she's been slowed but not dead.
A Hero Lives/E - Emergency Call - Both hit because of heroes winning the Japanese nationals. In a way its fair but a little irritating none the less speaking as a mega hero player =P
Heiratic Seal of Convocation - I have no idea of what Heiratic dragons are capable of so no comments here (except this one =P).
Pot of Duality - I never thought this would get hit. Almost every deck uses it and the drawbacks of the card are turn-wasting. I think it should've stayed at 3.
Reasoning - I'm genuinely supprised at this. I thought it would stay at 1. At least they left Monster Gate at 1. Im interested for what this will do the current meta.
Mirror Force - Well shit... I can't believe this happened. They get rid of inzektors, THEN bring in even more heavy monster destruction... gonna have to watch out for more Starlight Road and The Huge Revolution is Over. I don't like this XD
Unlimited:
Marshmallon - It's worse than Spirit Reaper in most circumstances so I didn't understand why they sent Reaper to 3 when this was still at 1 (I think)
Necro Gardna - Lightsworns are dying out like plant synchro so this may bring them back a little.. i dunno... lets see how this pans out =P
Destiny Draw - Konami, please give me whatever magical thing it is you're smoking... DESTINY HERO - DIAMOND DUDE!! honestly it's bad enough without 3 D - Draw... daft idea =P
Emergency Teleport - Welcome back TeleDAD! I cant remember what that deck actually does but it uses this and it's good =P its not a bad choice I don't think.
Level Limit - Area B/Swords of Revealing Light - Wow... Konami are really promoting the XYZs. I can see stall decks being a pain in the arse this format...
Magic Cylinder - I've contemplated siding these... its quite rediculous with all the 2500ATK+ beaters out there currently.
SO THERE YOU HAVE IT
My opinion on the banlist. To finish I'll say that this is the most ballanced format in years THANK YOU KONAMI!!... I don't say that very often =P
Stokachu =3
Deep Pan Cookies (om freaking nom)
So, um, hi. AnnaMay here. *awkward wave*
Thought I'd share this with you lot - it's my own recipe*, done in comic form (because recipes today are seriously lacking in memes).
You may have to click "open image in new tab" to view it, I think. Hrmhrmhrm.
Enjoy! And if you do make them, feedback is always welcome :D
Thought I'd share this with you lot - it's my own recipe*, done in comic form (because recipes today are seriously lacking in memes).
You may have to click "open image in new tab" to view it, I think. Hrmhrmhrm.
Enjoy! And if you do make them, feedback is always welcome :D
*Unfortunately can't claim originality for this, there are plenty of different versions out there on the Interwebtubes but NATURALLY mine is the best. XD
ParaNorman: Film Review
The Premise
Norman Babcock is a perfectly normal
(Read: Stereotypical) nerdy teenage kid. He goes to school. He gets
beaten up. He has no real friends. The rest of the small town he lives in
treats him like an outcast.
Oh, and he can talk to ghosts.
Come to think of it, that's probably why he get's bullied, has no
friends, and is treated like an outcast.
He continues with his strange upsetting life until he starts
having strange visions of terrible things to come. The witch's curse placed on
the town centuries ago is about to come to pass and the dead are about to rise
from their graves. Naturally, only he can do something about it. Well, him
and his new found gang of misfit companions of course.
From TVTropes: Basically "The Goonies" meets "Night
of the Living Dead" with a strong dose of "The Sixth Sense" and
"Super 8".
The Review
The first thing I heard about ParaNorman was that it was made by
Laika Animation Studios, better known as the guys behind the 2009 stop-motion
animation film Coraline. This one simple fact got me very excited to give this
film a shot, if just to marvel at its visuals. In that camp, I
was certainly not disappointed, ParaNorman looks absolutely spectacular.
An incredible amount of thought has obviously gone into how the hand sculpted
models should be implemented. For example, the appearance of motion blur is
given by using "smeared" character models. (See Link A) "Eye
Candy" doesn't begin to describe it. It is a shame, then, that the film as
an entire package doesn't really live up to the very high standards the studio
has set.
Let's start with the characters. Norman himself is the
least insufferable of the main ensemble. Although his quiet
nerd demeanour is rather uninspired (this is probably justified due
to his constant bullying) he does have moments of snarky humour and wit. It's
almost every other character I have issues with! They each conform to a
one-dimensional stereotype, as if the writers really did get their inspiration
straight form "The Goonies".
Neil is a "kindred spirit" to Norman, the only other kid
to suffer bullying as bad has his. Myself and most other viewers probably
expected him to become the secondary protagonist, but he completely fails to
have any other real influence in the plot beyond this. Norman's older sister
Courtney and Neil's older brother Mitch are the archetypical
"cheerleader" and "jock" respectively. Courtney's
constant attempts to get Mitch to notice her are played for laughs, but once
again, the only purpose either of them really serves is to flesh out the cast.
Oh, and Mitch can drive, I guess. Finally we have Alvin, the school bully and
dumb thug who the audience is essentially told outright to dislike the
moment he enters the scene, only to have him join the protagonists at even
the remote sign of danger. And of course, Norman’s parents (and almost any
other adult present) prove themselves next to useless throughout the entire
affair.
Perhaps the unoriginal characters were an attempt to parody the
films’ "B-movie" setting? If so, it backfired. Although dialogue
between the group members is entertaining, I can’t shake the feeling that I’ve
seen it all before, and I imagine most members of the audience will feel the
same way.
However irritating most of the characters may be, there are many
other aspects that ParaNorman manages to nail spot on. The film makes no secret
of the fact it’s taking jabs at old horror movies, and the sheer number of
references and shout out’s in both the dialogue and behind the scenes is truly
impressive. From the obvious (one of characters dons a hockey mask a la
“Chainsaw Massacre”) to the subtle (a candy machine contains a bar of “Cujoh’s
Chocolate”). Coupled with many other hidden gags (of a surprisingly crude
nature for it’s PG rating I might add), and this becomes a film that could
easily benefit from repeated viewings.
Another point in ParaNorman’s favour is how the plot unfolds.
Starting from a premise that has clearly been done to death (boy with
extraordinary powers must save his hometown from destruction), the final third
or so of the film plays out quite a bit differently than might be expected,
after a surprisingly emotional and disturbing plot twist. It was quite refreshing
to watch this occur, even if it was a little exposition heavy. I was especially
impressed with the final act, which was both stunning to watch and genuinely
creepy in places.
All in all, ParaNorman is certainly an entertaining film as a
whole. It’s outstanding visuals and constant stream of scenery gags make for a
fun experience, but the incredibly predictable characters and dialogue often
hold it back from what it could have been, a film with an interesting story
that defied expectations, like Coraline before it. But who knows? Maybe I
simply took the whole thing too seriously? Ultimately, I would recommend giving
it a shot, and if you do, tell me what you think!
3/5 stars
Jake
Link A, (Smeared character models) http://animationsmears.tumblr.com/post/27987323392/paranorman-is-using-sculpted-smears-i-admit-it
Monday, 17 September 2012
Back to the "Good Old Days"...
It was recently announced that come 2015, the Conservative government will be abolishing GCSE's, returning us to the system that was in use back in the 80's. Namely, everyone at age 16 must take a single, terminal, examination at the end of their two year course, the result of which determines whether they pass or fail. No modules. No resits.
Somehow, this isn't coming across to me as a good idea.
A quick history lesson. Pre-1988, we had a tiered system for examinations and qualifications. More academically inclined students took O-levels, while everyone else took CSE's (Certificate of Secondary Education). The highest grade attainable on a CSE was supposed to be equivalent to a C at O-level. The problem was, it sort of....wasn't. Employers tended to favour those who had O-levels to those who took CSE's. Essentially, the system was rather biased toward very academic students, with those students more inclined to take vocational courses getting the raw deal.
That was the first half of the problem. The second half was that both O-levels and CSE grades were decided on the results of a single terminal examination at the end of the two years. The problems with that are glaringly obvious, how many times have you guys felt you've messed up on an exam? And then consider the fact that you can't be tested on every aspect of the course within just one paper. Our generation takes for granted that we know exactly what we have to revise to get the grades, our parents didn't have that luxury. They had to revise EVERYTHING and hope that they got lucky with whatever was on that single paper!
GCSE's were introduced in 1988 by the Conservatives to try and combat this. The idea was that the divisive tired system and terminal examinations were to be replaced with a modular system which offered a full range of grades (A-G), and which also offered vocational courses for less academic students which focused more on practical skills and employability.
Fast forward 25 years, and the Tories are complaining again. (There's no pleasing some people!) Essentially, the introduction of the modular system made teaching the course material a hell of a lot easier, and also gave a much clearer picture of what was going to be on the exam papers. This naturally led to a steadily increasing pass rate over the years. This should start to sound familiar to you guys, we end up with a system where A's and A*'s are the norm, and students are taught simply to "pass exams". The Tories tend to argue that this is a problem with the GCSE system, and they may be right. But is returning to the original, inherently flawed, system going to solve these problems, or just resurrect the problems we had back in the 80's?
I'm thinking the latter. To be honest, a return to the "Good Old Days" of the academic elite and grammar schools is probably what they want. Blergh.
What do you guys think?
Jake
Somehow, this isn't coming across to me as a good idea.
A quick history lesson. Pre-1988, we had a tiered system for examinations and qualifications. More academically inclined students took O-levels, while everyone else took CSE's (Certificate of Secondary Education). The highest grade attainable on a CSE was supposed to be equivalent to a C at O-level. The problem was, it sort of....wasn't. Employers tended to favour those who had O-levels to those who took CSE's. Essentially, the system was rather biased toward very academic students, with those students more inclined to take vocational courses getting the raw deal.
That was the first half of the problem. The second half was that both O-levels and CSE grades were decided on the results of a single terminal examination at the end of the two years. The problems with that are glaringly obvious, how many times have you guys felt you've messed up on an exam? And then consider the fact that you can't be tested on every aspect of the course within just one paper. Our generation takes for granted that we know exactly what we have to revise to get the grades, our parents didn't have that luxury. They had to revise EVERYTHING and hope that they got lucky with whatever was on that single paper!
GCSE's were introduced in 1988 by the Conservatives to try and combat this. The idea was that the divisive tired system and terminal examinations were to be replaced with a modular system which offered a full range of grades (A-G), and which also offered vocational courses for less academic students which focused more on practical skills and employability.
Fast forward 25 years, and the Tories are complaining again. (There's no pleasing some people!) Essentially, the introduction of the modular system made teaching the course material a hell of a lot easier, and also gave a much clearer picture of what was going to be on the exam papers. This naturally led to a steadily increasing pass rate over the years. This should start to sound familiar to you guys, we end up with a system where A's and A*'s are the norm, and students are taught simply to "pass exams". The Tories tend to argue that this is a problem with the GCSE system, and they may be right. But is returning to the original, inherently flawed, system going to solve these problems, or just resurrect the problems we had back in the 80's?
I'm thinking the latter. To be honest, a return to the "Good Old Days" of the academic elite and grammar schools is probably what they want. Blergh.
What do you guys think?
Jake
Sunday, 16 September 2012
Something is better than Nothing
Lesson of the day right there.
In the context of this blog, it means it doesn't matter if you feel like there is nothing you could say that is memorable or interesting. In a nutshell, it simply doesn't have to be.
To the other seven authors of this blog (of which two have currently accepted my invitation), post whatever you feel like posting, whatever strikes your fancy. Post about films you watched recently, and whether they were worth watching or were simply garbage. Post about card games (on motorcycles if you will). Post about books you've read, or would like to read. Post video's, your own or someone else's. Post art. Post photos. Post short stories. Post about university. You know what, post bloody anything! This is a place for the eight of us to post our deep philosophical insights, or simply what we had for breakfast that morning. I don't care what it is, and neither should you, as long as it's SOMETHING.
There shall be no rules about how often one should post. However, I shall be personally aiming for at least one post a week.
I shall be posting about video games. And books. And maths. And manga. And computers. And cats. And zombies. And pirates. And ninja's. And comics. And Homestuck. And nerds. And probably a lot of other things besides, some interesting, some dull as all hell, and you guys can comment to tell me how much of an idiot I'm being, or just tell me in your next post! Discussion between us, requests for conversation topics and such, would be brilliant.
In short, here's a blog. Do what you want with it.
That is all.
Jake
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