| Internets. |
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| 07:14pm 26/01/2008 |
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mood:  bouncy music: The Birthday Massacre -- Video Kid
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I've finally got my own internets here in London. YES! I will no longer be reduced to begging for my warez/pornography on the streets!
It also means I can use my wonderful, lovely, sexual Xbox LIVE on the gorgeous, sleek, erotic Xbox 360 my brother got me for my birthday. My Gamertag is, erm, 'Jessica Padkin'. Add me to your flist if you want to destroy a n00b at Halo 3. =( |
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[ 5 insolent fools | dare you question me?! ] |
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| Ask Me The Question, Noel. |
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| 02:15pm 11/07/2007 |
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mood:  excited music: Orbital -- I Don't Know You People
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The other day, I saw a book that I think is going to rock the literary world.
I was in The Works with my mum looking for an anthology of what is known as KILLER Sudoku because, according to her, normal Sudoku is for n00bs. There on the shelf, I saw it-- Deal Or No Deal: The Paperback.
Okay, I find the TV show quite entertaining, but I struggled to understand how it would ever translate to a book format. I had a quick look, and every page showed a different set of boxes at various stages in the game. Presumably the 'player' had to turn to a different page to make their decision, like a 'Choose Your Own Adventure' book.
What could possibly go wrong in a person's life that would make them want to buy such a book?
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Extremely Quick Reviews of Games I've completed recently:
Okami (PS2)
No doubt about it, this is a beautiful game. When I first started playing it, it was a 7-hour-a-day habit. However, I can't help but feel that it ran out of steam somewhat towards the end...? The plot completely drops off halfway through, it becomes quite repetitive, and none of the combat or puzzles in the game are particularly challenging (although there are a few extremely frustrating bits, those bloody two-hour demon gate sequences spring to mind). Don't get me wrong though, it's absolutely top-notch artistically and conceptually, enough so that it's easy enough to ignore the flaws in the gameplay. I suppose I'm not a fan of the Zelda-style genre in particular really, it tends to feel rather watered-down and passive compared to standard action-adventures (Tomb Raider, Prince of Persia, Ninja Gaiden, ICO etc).
Sonic the Hedgehog (360)
Good Christ, I actually completed this game. I got a copy of it for free and laboured with Sonic's game for a while, before giving up to preserve my sanity. My brother recently persuaded me to finish it, partly to earn him some more achievements and partly because it does have a 'so bad it's good' quality at points.
It's damned awful. While it looks pretty dreadful from videos/screenshots/reviews, you really can't get a grasp on exactly how shit it is until you play it. I can't list the ways in which this game fucking sucks; it'll be much quicker to detail the aspects of the game that aren't completely awful:
• The FMV sequences are very well done (even if the content is dreadful).
• The bit at the end with the glowing magnetic balls that gradually enlarged and made the colours negative was quite interesting. I mean, in the actual game it was frustrating and annoying, but in a decent platformer I imagine it would be quite good...
• The way Shadow looks backwards when he reverses a vehicle is quite sweet.
That's it.
Resistance: Fall of Man (PS3)
I liked this game. I have a soft spot in general for cooperative split-screen in games, and playing through this with my brother was a blast. Its major failing was that it really isn't original: it is essentially Halo... IN ENGLAND. I kind of wish it was more tounge-in-cheek: the whacky, bizarre Ratchet and Clank-style weapons you get when you play the game through a second time (I think... my brother completed it the first time) are a riot. It was definitely a solid and enjoyable game, though.
God of War 2 (PS2)
Of all the games I've completed recently, this is my favourite. I never played the original for some reason, and to be honest I didn't think it'd be anything special to begin with. Button bashing? QTEs??
It's excellent, though. The combat is a little bit button-bashy and not quite as smooth as the likes of Ninja Gaiden, but that's my only real complaint. I'm a big fan of (good) set-pieces in games, and GoW2 has them in spades. They're all inventive, well designed and memorable. The puzzles were actually a hell of a lot more cerebral than I was expecting too.
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Well, I've got my house all sorted for next week when I start work at The Segas. I'll be living with a bunch of (male!) students in South Ealing. I only have one friend in London, so... any Londoners on my friends list want to head into Camden or something some time? |
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[ 4 insolent fools | dare you question me?! ] |
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| Facts About Jessica! |
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| 01:48am 30/05/2007 |
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mood: happy music: Orbital - Philosophy by Numbers
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Here are some things you may or may not know about me:
• My full birth name is/was 'Jessica Ruth Padkin-Taylor'. I sort of gradually dropped the Taylor over the years, but I plan on replacing it with something else eventually...
• I've never smoked a cigarette in my life.
• I have a (pretty rare, in the UK at least) microdermal piercing.
• I am a huge fan of Red Dwarf and Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, to the extent that I honestly feel that they actually affected me growing up. However, I absolutely despise RD series 7 and 8 and the HHGG movie.
• Likewise, I am still (and probably always will be) a massive and downright obsessive Sonic the Hedgehog fan, despite the fact that I don't really like the new games.
• I have a scar on my head (obscured by my hair) from when my sister threw a bible(!) at me.
• I have frightful tinitus, thanks to years of listening to headphones at insane volume. Thankfully, I don't notice it most of the time.
• I had nine pictures printed in Sonic the Comic (as far as I know, more than anyone else!). They were all awful, and I stole the poses from Garfield comics for most of them...
• I like to name my computers. My current machine is called 'Bishop'.
• I absolutely have to vote in every election I can. I didn't vote in an European election once, and as a terrible consequence (in my mind, anyway) my MEP is(/was?) Robert Kilroy Silk. Since that day, I vowed I would never miss my chance to vote ever again.
• My birthday is the 5th of November, bonfire night. In my opinion, I could not have been born on a better date.
• I suffered from clinical depression for several years, for a time so badly that I had trouble leaving the house.
• I am fascinated by robots, and AI in general. I really, really hope that I live to see robots that can converse with human beings.
• The first video I ever owned was volume one of 'The Trap Door', the absolutely awesome claymation cartoon. The first film I ever owned was The Beatles' 'Yellow Submarine'.
• I really like cyber fashion. Some of my favourite designers are Futurstate, S.D.L., Cyberdog (I don't like some of the tacky new rave stuff, mind) and Lovebomb.
• I am sexually submissive. I used to think that this was something to be ashamed of, in a way, but I don't any more.
• I'm very liberal and I try to be a philanthropist but, God help me, I just generally find most people really annoying. =(
• Probably the first game I ever loved, I mean really loved, was the original Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back arcade game (I had the port they made for the Amstrad CPC 464, incidentally the first computer I ever owned). I still think this is an awesome game. |
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[ 8 insolent fools | dare you question me?! ] |
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| 10:12pm 17/05/2007 |
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mood: happy music: Add n to (x) -- Little Black Rocks in the Sun
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Well folks, I've got meself the job at Sega for my placement/internship next year. Woo! I get the feeling a few of my tutors are disappointed that I 'settled' for a lowly testing job rather than going for a position in 3D art, but:
1) ALL of the actual games studios I've talked to have told me it's extremely unlikely any company would take on students for an art placement, no matter how talented they were. Most only do programming placements, and many are unpaid. Besides, I personally don't feel I have enough experience to be a full-time 3D artist yet. In two years I'll be able to build up a much better portfolio for when I start looking for a proper job.
2) One of my good friends from uni is going as well, which'll make it easier to get settled in.
3) I wanna live in London. I know it's freaking expensive (I will be in a shared student flat though), but it'll be an interesting experience in itself.
4) I want to meet Dr. Robotnik.
In other news, I'm desperately trying to get back into drawing on a regular basis. I've got several ancient commissions that I've been needing to finish for ages now, some of them over a year old, seriously. Gawd. I think I need to set tighter deadlines for myself; whenever I get commissions that need to be done in a week, I bloody well get them done. However, when the, um, commissioner tells me to take as long as I like, I do just that. Muh. |
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[ 5 insolent fools | dare you question me?! ] |
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| Boring Hair. |
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| 11:45pm 28/07/2006 |
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music: Data Panik - Minimum Wage
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I finally took my braids out a few days ago. I feel naked. =(
R.I.P. (until I can find someone to put them back in):
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[ 5 insolent fools | dare you question me?! ] |
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| A Challenge... |
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| 12:11pm 02/06/2006 |
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mood:  chipper music: Bis - Eurodisco
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Is there perhaps a brilliant person out there who could help me with an animated GIF problem?
All I want to do is get this image below 40kb so I could use it on LiveJournal:
Is it possible? The problem is that it repeats several frames at the beginning, but it saves these as new frames. I have no understanding whatsoever of how animated GIFs work, but is there any way to save it so that it actually repeats frames a certain amount of times before showing the next frame? Or is there just a good way of compressing it without taking a massive hit in quality? |
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[ 5 insolent fools | dare you question me?! ] |
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| 04:55pm 15/05/2006 |
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Wow, amazing, great. I've got the internets in my uni room, finally! Turns out the 'internet broke' in this accommodation block, so it's free for anyone to use. Not sure how that works, but I'm not complaining.
I've finished my first year at uni, currently just doing a tiny bit of 3D modelling with a small company here in Huddersfield, drawing very little, sculpting a bit, playing Ninja Gaiden Black, playing Gunstar Heroes, playing through Knights of the Old Republic for the millionth time and, er, that's it really. All of my friends have pissed off back home too, so I'm on my tod!
A couple of my chums went to E3 (I would've liked to go, but I can't say I would've been prepared to pay the £1000 they paid to get there). There are some games I'm looking forward to, but on the whole I've found the coverage a bit irritating. Am I truly the only hardcore gamer on Earth who likes games, not consoles? All three consoles look interesting, but I'm not particularly sold when it comes to the games on any of them. My brother's got a 360 and it's a great console, but the range of games is a little sparse still. The PS3 is freakishly expensive but considering that the PS2 ended up with a fantastic library with far more of the eclectic and interesting games, I'm really hoping it'll match its predecessor. However, besides Virtua Fighter 5 I'm not really seeing anything that appeals to me yet. As for the Wii, er, I'll definitely have to try it before I make a decision. It's certainly interesting, but I'm hoping that third parties will come up with something good for it because, YET AGAIN, Nintendo are doing their EA act and rehashing the same damn games. I've tried to get into them, but I'll just never be a Nintendo fan, I don't think.
At any rate, I'll almost certainly end up with all three of 'em so I'm happy to wait and see what happens. It's not as if there aren't enough PS2 and Xbox games for me to get through before then, and my rich brother is sure to get them all on release anyway. Hell, I still need to get a DS...
The games? Obviously, if Virtua Fighter 5 is anywhere near as good as VF4: Evo, then I'm sold, Dead Rising looks like an absolute riot, I'm still looking forward to Okami a lot and that other Capcom game (Lost Planet, is it?) looks fantastic. Halo 3... nuff said.
The Sonic games, on the other hand... bleugh. I KNOW they're aimed at kids these days so my opinions are probably pretty invalid, but I can't say I like the look of them.
Sonic the Hedgehog looks like a steaming pile of GENERIC. This is disappointing, since I was hoping they'd actually put some thought into the style of the game this time. The gameplay itself looks like the exact same 'racetrack suspended in the air' from Sonic Heroes. Terrific.
Wildfire looks salvageable at least. The on rails EyeToy gameplay sounds pathetic, but at least it LOOKS more like a Sonic game should look. I'm keeping an open mind on all these games, obviously, but this one looks at least like it might be decent, if mind-numbingly shallow.
Still, it's early days yet.
This post was a lot longer than I intended it to be. Er, sorry. |
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[ 2 insolent fools | dare you question me?! ] |
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| It's a Fish. |
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| 12:52am 19/12/2005 |
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mood: happy music: Sonic Rush soundtrack - Jeh Jeh Rocket
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HELLO.
I'm back for the christmas holiday. Uni is going very well indeed: applying for this course was the best decision I ever made. I love Huddersfield, I love my uni chums, I love my work and I love the fact that I'm not a shy gibbering wreck anymore. It's strange, some people have commented on how I seem like a different person, but really I feel I'm more like the person who I've always wanted to be.
Anyway, enough of that crap, I've got a video of my first 3D work that you lot may be interested in:
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/padkin/Padkin_Jessica_F1.avi
Alright, I know it's not great, but hey-- it's my first ever 3D model/animation/environment! I got one of the top marks for it too (only two people scored above me, and they'd used 3D Max before). So, well, I'm pretty pleased with how it turned out.
The only thing that really annoyed me was that I couldn't get the fish to actually accelerate, it could only move at constant speeds... hence why it seems a bit jerky at points. I asked my tutor, but apparently the only way to do it is with MaxScript. BAH.
So.. how are you all? |
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[ 12 insolent fools | dare you question me?! ] |
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| Two Weeks of Uni |
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| 09:50am 30/09/2005 |
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Well, I'm back home for the weekend after doing a week my of my Games Design degree at Huddersfield University (as well as the fresher's week before that). I don't know how things will change as the workload increases, but so far I'm absolutely loving it. There is a LOT of work and skills to develop (the timetable is actually more packed than the one for my Engineering degree was), but it's so much fun! On Wednesday we had a four hour session in the concept design module that basically involved discussing our favourite games and what makes them so memorable. It was fantastic! Finally learning 3D Studio Max, Flash MX and the like is great too.
Most of all, I'm so relieved that I managed to make friends so quickly. I was worried my shyness would be a huge problem for me before I started, but it really is refreshing to be around like-minded people (one of my lecturers and one of my classmates are fellow Treasure worshippers, hahaha). I've only ever been able to have huge conversations about games with my brother before, and it's the thing I'm absolutely most passionate about.
The one thing I do really miss, though, is internet access. Even though I've found similar people to talk to in 'real life', there's no way I'm going to forget my online pals, ever. The broadband connection in the halls of residence is actually pretty cheap, so hopefully after christmas I might be able to pick up a cheap-ish computer. It'd be really useful for learning 3DS Max and the like too without having to use the uni computer labs all night, anyway.
I'm going back up on Sunday (on the sodding boring-as-hell coach), so if anyone wants to keep in touch, I do still check my email (jessicapadkin@ntlworld.com) periodically.
Finally, I've been told to pass this on: http://www.nightsintodreams.com/NiD/forums/index.php?showtopic=726 |
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[ 3 insolent fools | dare you question me?! ] |
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| The Winds of Change |
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| 10:46pm 19/08/2005 |
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mood: jubilant music: Super Furry Animals - Lazer Beam
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Ladies and Gentlemen, today marks the end of an era.
I'm sure you're all familiar with the fabulous sexy Robotnik animation that has served me well over the past year (or so), the EggThrust:
Well, I've decided that it's time to put this wonderful icon into retirement and replace it with a fresh new model. I've been using a large version as my avatar on Sonic CulT for some time, but I think I'd rather like to introduce him to LJ as well. Feast your eyes on... the treehump.
Enjoy, my friends.
By the way, did anyone else notice that they've replaced the Neo Geo in the cafe in Eastenders with a Virtua Fighter 4 machine? |
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[ 8 insolent fools | dare you question me?! ] |
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| New artwork. |
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| 05:49pm 05/04/2005 |
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mood:  irritated
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I'm quickly losing my patience with DeviantArt, so I've decided to try showing my new art here as well. The problem is, I'm REALLY looking for critiques and genuine opinions on my stuff at the moment, and all I ever get on DA is mindless "not bad" comments that aren't bloody useful or interesting in the slightest.
What the hell is up with that? People will only ever take the time to nitpick and find flaws in masterpieces made by professionals. I'm not suggesting that any artwork is above criticism, but it's obvious when a picture looks 'right' and is clearly done by someone who knows what they're doing. It's also obvious when it's blatantly flawed and done by someone who is clearly struggling (like me) and could actually BENEFIT from thoughtful criticism. The 'Advanced Critique Encouraged' thing is absolutely bloody useless too.
While I'm on a rant, never draw anything that contains a reference to the XBox in any way, lest ye be subjected to four thousand "LOL XBOX IS BIG!!!" jokes.
ARGH.
Anyway, here's the pic:
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[ 18 insolent fools | dare you question me?! ] |
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| General Whining |
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| 10:29pm 20/03/2005 |
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Sorry about this post, it's fluff. I can't be bothered to write this entry in proper English. I just have a few worries I need to get off my chest.
Well, I start a Games Design degree at Huddersfield University in September. Obviously I'm glad to have sorted out a course in something I am deeply passionate but I can't help but fret about certain things.
For starters, I'm terrified about money. I have, oh, £1700 in the bank and a previous uni loan of £2300 or something. I'm unemployed at the moment, but IF I manage to land a job between now and September, I MIGHT just be able to raise enough money to cancel out my debt, leaving me with a grand total of £0 to my name when I start uni. Yeah yeah, I'll have another loan, but I am the type of person that HATES being in debt. It scares the hell out of me.
I'm so angry with myself at the fact that I've been out of university for 3 years and have earned so little. Hell, I haven't worked since November. I should've put more effort into getting another job, but... eh. The days just seem to fly by, and I find it hard enough to find the enthusiasm to get out of BED and face life at all some days.
Secondly, I just don't have confidence in my art. My offer at Huddersfield was unconditional, but artwork IS an important part of the course. I've considered doing an Art Foundation course first, but that would mean yet ANOTHER year before I start my course.
Finally... I just can't but feel too damn old. I'm 22, and I have achieved nothing, I have no money to my name, and I'm ONLY JUST starting uni. I know it's daft and, hell, it's probably just another bout of depression and I'll feel better in the morning, but I feel like I've failed already.
Edit: For those who have played KOTOR 2 and desperately thought it should have had a Bao-Dur romance option, look at this (WARNING: you might want to use headphones. The end bit is very... racey):
http://www.sundell.net/~bcowley/baodur.html
I laughed so hard I nearly cried. |
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[ 8 insolent fools | dare you question me?! ] |
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| Please be safe, G! |
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| 11:15pm 25/01/2005 |
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mood:  artistic music: The Chemical Brothers - Galvanize
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Greetings, my fine pimp-ass hoes in the hood or somesuch! I have a tentative proposition that some of my fine artistically-inclined chums may be a bit interested in, should I take it further.
Well, I've been reading a few fan-produced comic anthologies (doujinshi for the propa l33t) lately, and I'd really like to give it a go myself. I was thinking a Sonic the Hedgehog or general Sega compilation. What I'd need is a few black and white short comics or pin-up type images from any artists who'd like to contribute. They wouldn't have to be absolutely top professional quality or anything, and the content could be anything at all from thought-provoking emo stuff to the usual gag strips (not hentai, mind). These would be actual physical comics to be sold over the internet, but obviously it would be non-profit.
I'm not expecting much of a response really, but let me know if you'd be up for this tomfoolery.
Additionally, I recently made the decision to return to university. I've applied to several Games Design degree courses, and I've so far had one unconditional offer from a nearby college. I'm very optimistic about the future. |
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[ 7 insolent fools | dare you question me?! ] |
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| Just thought I'd say... |
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| 11:52pm 19/10/2004 |
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mood: happy music: Marion - Sleep
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I am now officially NO LONGER OVERWEIGHT.
Yesterday, the man known as the ![[info]](http://p-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif) buml0rintroduced me to QRIO. I love robots. I long for the day when I can meet a real walking, talking intelligent robot. Seeing this little guy in action... it made me realise that MAYBE that isn't such a far-fetched dream at all. 10 or so years ago, those 'Seven Dwarf' robots were considered the cutting edge. Now you can buy more complex robotic toys than that in shops. Sniff. |
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[ 3 insolent fools | dare you question me?! ] |
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| Thought for the day. |
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| 11:15pm 21/09/2004 |
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mood: hopeful music: Cranium HF - Sixteen Bit Suicide
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Has anyone ever noticed...
The people who lie the most are the worst at it? I rarely lie to people, in fact I'm often brutally honest, but when I do have to, I know how to do so convincingly and can cover my bases so as not to cause hurt in the future. The pathological liars, those who practically invent their worthless existence around petty lies, reel their idiotic lies off without the first thought of what might come later.
The sad thing is, many of these people think their victims actually fall for their crap. Heh, I've known many an unstoppable hyperliar beast, and in every case as soon as their back was turned everyone would stop humouring them and have a good laugh at their expense. All intelligent people can see through a phony a mile off.
The act fools nobody. If you're one of these liars, the chances are your 'friends' know exactly what you're doing, and are playing you as much as you are them. |
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[ 2 insolent fools | dare you question me?! ] |
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| The Red X |
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| 03:33pm 03/08/2004 |
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This is a stupid question but...
Is this image:
... Copyrighted to anyone (ie Microsoft)? Could you legally replicate such a simple image? |
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[ 4 insolent fools | dare you question me?! ] |
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| Wow. |
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| 04:03pm 23/06/2004 |
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Yesterday on EastEnders, the snake slide collapsed.
Just like in Theme Park!
Is there now going to be a square patch of rubble in the middle of Albert Square that nobody will ever be able to build on? |
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[ 2 insolent fools | dare you question me?! ] |
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| Bristol Comics Con |
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| 05:52pm 22/05/2004 |
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Never mind my previous whining, I have ordered a coach ticket to Bristol for the comic con. APPARENTLY the place I arrive at (Marlborough bus station) is about a 15 minute walk at the most from where the con is, so I'll just get a taxi or something. Unless someone else could meet me there? I dunno.
I hate the trains so much. It costs £37 to get to Leicester from London now (SINGLE journey, not return). What the hell? |
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[ 1 insolent fool | dare you question me?! ] |
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| 01:51am 17/05/2004 |
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mood:  sad
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I have dropped my lip stud many times. This time, I believe I have lost it for good.
Bollocks!
Update: I spent a short amount of time searching on the floor, and I have not found my oral adornment. I have, however, found a number of ball bearings of the exact size and appearance. WHY DO YOU TAUNT ME, LORD? |
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[ 1 insolent fool | dare you question me?! ] |
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![[info]](http://p-stat.livejournal.com/img/community.gif){kind=small}
thoughtful
