http://search.deviantart.com/?q=by:Akiraine&section=today deviantART RSS for by:Akiraine en-us Copyright 2009, deviantART.com Thu, 17 Dec 2009 23:10:11 PST deviantART.com http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss http://s.deviantart.com/minish/widgets/apple-touch-icon-precomposed.png http://Akiraine.deviantart.com/journal/28644261/ http://Akiraine.deviantart.com/journal/28644261/ Sun, 29 Nov 2009 05:51:32 PST [link]

My characters:

-Rumour [link] [link]
-Redeye [link]
-Vates [link] [link]
-Steppenwolf: [link] [link]
-Liu Zhou: [link]
-Jake Creedy [link] [link]
-Alex Nightingale [link]

Scenarios:

-Rumour and/or Redeye trying to stop a bank robbery.
-Alex Nightingale arriving in a new world.
-Jake Creedy fighting Liu Zhou for control of a magical artifact.

Characters that don't belong to me:

-Any characters from Sir Terry Pratchett's Discworld series.

]]> *Akiraine http://Akiraine.deviantart.com/journal/28201458/ http://Akiraine.deviantart.com/journal/28201458/ Sat, 07 Nov 2009 15:49:02 PST [link]

And second, *zephrania is holding a Secret Santa project with a slight twist. It sounds like fun, and everyone who signs up gets some free art come Christmas, so check it out: [link]


In completely unrelated news, I managed to get my hands on a copy of Terry Pratchett's latest book, Unseen Academicals. It's wonderful, and eating up my time like anything.

]]> *Akiraine http://Akiraine.deviantart.com/journal/27906234/ http://Akiraine.deviantart.com/journal/27906234/ Fri, 23 Oct 2009 00:45:41 PDT
See you when I see you.

Edit: Now it's fixed. I'd just forgotten to change our username over in the internet setup thing. I love the Telstra Clear help desk people, I was only on the phone for a total of ten minutes before it was fixed. As opposed to ten hours with the bloody iHug people.

]]> *Akiraine http://Akiraine.deviantart.com/journal/27825921/ http://Akiraine.deviantart.com/journal/27825921/ Sat, 17 Oct 2009 23:07:13 PDT
But it had a happy ending, and I love 'Melodies of Life', the end credits theme. Final Fantasy IX's place as my favourite video game of all time has been well and truly cemented.

]]> *Akiraine http://Akiraine.deviantart.com/journal/27620854/ http://Akiraine.deviantart.com/journal/27620854/ Tue, 06 Oct 2009 18:01:32 PDT
Level 3 English Research: Due on the second Monday of term. This can mostly be taken from my speech, but I do have a bit more work to do.

English Creative Writing Seminar: A six minute talk and a discussion on video games and the positive and negative effects they have on people. The first draft has to be finished by Monday (!!!).

Art Design Illustration work: I have to finish a bit of colouring over the holidays then I'm finished with the first two boards, and only have one left. This consists of three pages of comics, so that shouldn't be TOO hard.

---Where I'm at with other things:

The Rumour: I'm still planning issue one, and may get around to drawing it over the holidays, but will more likely end up doing it over the next year or two or ten.

Dogwood: I haven't even started working on chapter two. It may or may not happen this or next year.

Secret Wars: I still have two pages from the previous chapter to finish. I won't get around to this until I've finished my school work for the year, most likely.

CYOA: I haven't forgotten it, at least. The reason it died is that I'd started writing something when suddenly the results of the poll changed and I lost steam. I'll probably start writing it again after exams.

--University:

I'll be attending the University of Canterbury, to do a BA in Classics, Philosophy and History. I'll take these three subjects in the first year, and continue with the two I like best.

Ilam Village sent me an e-mail to tell me that I've been offered a room in one of their apartments, so I've been busily filling out acceptance forms and agreements and trying to scrape together all the information and money I need to send them. To my surprise, I already had the $700 in administration and contingency fees I have to send them. The contingency fee is refundable at the end of the year, if you haven't broken anything in the apartment.

I was very happy to get into Ilam, because it's the best of the Halls of Residence in my opinion. There are a couple at UC that are fancier, but they're also completely catered. Ilam is self-catered, so I get to cook for myself, without having set meal times.

]]> *Akiraine http://Akiraine.deviantart.com/journal/26579437/ http://Akiraine.deviantart.com/journal/26579437/ Thu, 13 Aug 2009 22:15:20 PDT [link]

]]> *Akiraine http://Akiraine.deviantart.com/journal/26436132/ http://Akiraine.deviantart.com/journal/26436132/ Fri, 07 Aug 2009 02:03:32 PDT
I'd normally write a review after seeing a film, but there's really nothing negative I can say, so it would come out sounding like an advertisement.

I'll just say that I loved it every bit as much as the book. Perhaps even more.

And that with another successful film made of one of Neil Gaiman's books, I live in hope that the next one will be Good Omens, the book he wrote with Terry Pratchett.

If you haven't read Good Omens, do so. Now. You won't regret it.

]]> *Akiraine http://Akiraine.deviantart.com/journal/26310711/ http://Akiraine.deviantart.com/journal/26310711/ Sat, 01 Aug 2009 02:34:00 PDT
They're all very young. The oldest, a girl with brown hair tied back in plaits, looks to be around seven or eight. The youngest is a baby she's clutching in her arms. Two small boys are cowering behind her.

You crouch down a few metres away from them, trying not to frighten them further. "I'm not here to hurt you," you tell them, "You're safe now. I'll protect you."

The girl suddenly scowls at you. "That's what the other man said," she says, somewhat accusingly, "and then he left."

You frown. "The man in the black cloak?" you ask.

"Yes," the girl answers.

"He had a sword!" one of the boys puts in. They seem happy enough to believe you’re not there to harm them.

"Do you have a sword?" the other boy asks.

"No," you tell him, "I only use non-lethal weapons."

The two boys look disappointed, then the younger one asks, "But you're one of the heroes, right? I saw a picture of you in the paper!"

You nod your head impatiently. "Listen, this is important. Did the man in the cloak say anything else?"

"He said for us to be quiet," the girl supplies.

"Anything else? Did he perhaps say why he was there?"

"He told us not to tell anyone," the elder of the two boys says.

"This is important! You can tell me. I'm trying to help you, I promise."

"Well... all right," the other boy says. His brother nods in agreement.

"He said that there were bad people who wanted to kidnap us because we're special," the girl says.

A suspicion begins to grow in the back of your mind. "What do you mean, special?"

The girl shrugs, but the older boy jumps to his feet. "I can do this!" he holds out his hands. Between them, a tiny flame flickers into life, and dances and wavers as the boy's fingers shake.

The boy is super human.

"Can you all do things like that?" you ask, trying to stay calm. If someone had somehow found out these children were super humans, would they be able to find other children? Who were they, and what were they planning to do with the super human children? What did the black cloaked man have to do with this?

"I can make fire move around too, but I can't make it like James can." The boy throws a jealous glance at his brother.

"Well, I can see what people are thinking," the girl boasts. "Sometimes, anyway."

"And the baby?"

"I don't know. He's never done anything weird."

"All right. Well..." you pause. You can't decide what to do next. You have to start investigating this, you have to warn the other heroes, and you have to keep the children safe; there's little doubt that whoever tried to kidnap them will try again.

"I have to take you with me, somewhere safe," you tell the children, "You're still in danger if you stay here."

"What about Mama and Papa?" the older boy, James, asks, "Will they come to?"

"No. The bad men aren't after them. If you're not here, they'll be safe."

"We should go!" the younger boy says, looking delighted, "Will we get to meet the other heroes? I want to meet the Guardian!"

"Maybe," you say.

The two boys look at their older sister, who glares at you for a short while, then nods.

"Right then. Come on!" You take the baby from the girl and stand up. "Follow me."

Now all you have to do is decide where to take them...

Take them back to your house-- you have an excellent security system, and you'll be able to keep an eye on them while you're not working.

Take them to a safe house-- the heroes have a few set up around the city, supplied with food and water that will last at least a week.

Take them to a friend for protection-- one of the other heroes, the Mason, gave up being a hero when the city outlawed them, but he would be happy to look after the children for you.

Poll: [link]

Notes: Two weeks since the last instalment! Blame my lack of organisation. Suddenly all the school stuff I didn't do enough work on over the holidays crashed down on me (I wasn't slacking over the holidays, I just didn't realise I was behind.) I tried to make this part longer and more amusing to make up for it.

Please forgive any mistakes. My proofreader is nowhere to be found (dammit where were you when I needed you).

Incidentally, it would have taken you ages to find out all this information if you'd chosen to just leave the h... ]]> *Akiraine http://Akiraine.deviantart.com/journal/26100116/ http://Akiraine.deviantart.com/journal/26100116/ Wed, 22 Jul 2009 02:18:14 PDT
The most noteworthy comment this received from the citizens of New Zealand was; "Now maybe it'll be cheaper to get over there."

Of course this has done nothing for the bitter rivalry between the die hard rugby and cricket fans.

I, on the other hand, find it absolutely hilarious.

]]> *Akiraine http://Akiraine.deviantart.com/journal/25975035/ http://Akiraine.deviantart.com/journal/25975035/ Wed, 15 Jul 2009 23:07:36 PDT
You sprint down the hallway after the cloaked man, reaching the end just in time to watch him disappear down a flight of stairs. You follow him down, but all you find at the bottom are two closed doors leading away from a small, elegantly decorated room. There's no sign of which way the man went. You pause for a moment, unable to decide where to go.

Suddenly you hear a muffled crash from somewhere beyond the right hand door. You push it open and run onwards. You turn a few corners but keep heading in the general direction the noise came from. As you round yet another corner, you catch your foot on something and fall heavily. Your armour stops you from getting hurt, but it makes an awful racket. If the cloaked man didn't know you were following him already, he does now. You look back at what you tripped over.

Another dead body.

This time it's the body of a large, middle-aged man wearing plain brown clothes. Probably another servant. You shuffle over and kneel beside the dead man to get a closer look.

His right hand is resting in the centre of the scattered remains of a flower vase. The water and flowers are spread across the floor. It seems this is the source of the crash you heard; the man must have grabbed the vase when he was attacked and knocked it off the window ledge above his body.

There is no obvious cause of death, so you roll him over. The back of his shirt is soaked in blood, and there is a deep wound right between his shoulder blades. It looks like someone stabbed him in the back.

The cloaked man probably killed him. And he's probably long gone by now. You sigh and stand up. Tonight has so far not been a good night. You can hear the distant ringing that signals the coming of the city police. You only have a couple of minutes before you have to leave the mansion to avoid a confrontation with them.

What should you do before you leave?

Leave now-- you can't risk a fight with the police. That would do nothing for the public opinion of the city's heroes. There's no point in staying; you'll find out whether Lord and Lady Richard are alive or not in the morning and the cloaked man is long gone.

Go back up and find the children-- see if they know or heard anything that might help you figure out what's going on.

Poll: [link]

Notes: You only have two options for this chapter... I could have added a couple more in but they would have just lead to the same two outcomes, so there wasn't really any point.

]]> *Akiraine http://Akiraine.deviantart.com/journal/25869086/ http://Akiraine.deviantart.com/journal/25869086/ Fri, 10 Jul 2009 21:08:03 PDT
You make your way to the far end of the house, trying to run silently while attempting to recall the layout of the building that you memorised when you added the Richards' security system to yours. Two flights of stairs and numerous long corridors bring you to the nursery.

There are five doors on each side of the hall, but you can't remember which one leads to the bedrooms. You'll just have to try them all. You run down the corridor, opening the doors one by one. As you go you forget to keep quiet, and you slam the second to last door open. No, it's just a storage closet. So it must be the last door.

As you burst through, you catch a glimpse of four small, frightened faces huddled together at the end of a short hallway, before a movement beside you gives you just enough time to realise you're being attacked before a fist catches you across the side of your face. You stumble backwards, dazed. You've never been hit that hard in your life. If your armour hadn't absorbed some of the impact you would be unconscious already.

You pull yourself together and turn to see who your attacker is. A man wearing a green scarf tied over the lower half of his face and a heavy black cloak with a hood, so you can't tell what he looks like. He is slightly shorter than you, but apparently much, much stronger. This doesn't look like it'll be an easy fight to win.

However, before you even have a chance to plan your first move, the man suddenly dodges past you and runs away down the corridor. You're about to chase after him when you hear a muffled sob from through the doorway. The children. They’re looking terrified, but at least they’re safe...

What to do next?

Chase the cloaked man-- He's obviously the intruder who murdered the cook and set off the alarm.
Stay with the children-- Whoever that was, he might not have been here alone. They're still in danger.
It's time to check up on Lord and Lady Richard.
It's time to check up on the other servants.

Poll: [link]

Notes: Enter the mysterious cloaked guy. Every good story needs one. Incidentally, by now I've mapped out the whole story. You just have to find your way through it.

]]> *Akiraine http://Akiraine.deviantart.com/journal/25862368/ http://Akiraine.deviantart.com/journal/25862368/ Fri, 10 Jul 2009 14:35:43 PDT
Two amazing pieces of artwork from two amazing artists. Go have a look!

]]> *Akiraine http://Akiraine.deviantart.com/journal/25736505/ http://Akiraine.deviantart.com/journal/25736505/ Sat, 04 Jul 2009 14:01:20 PDT
I'm going to study for a degree in Classics, in case anyone's interested.

While I'm in Christchurch I'm going to drag my family around the city looking for art stores. The one we had here was pretty crappy (I'm sure I've told most of you the story) then it shut down.

I'll be back on Friday, I think. Hopefully by then I'll have all my missing Secret Wars pages finished...

And I'm also closing the latest CYOA poll now so I can write the next part while I'm away. The most popular choice (by miles) was the Richard children.

]]> *Akiraine http://Akiraine.deviantart.com/journal/25685929/ http://Akiraine.deviantart.com/journal/25685929/ Thu, 02 Jul 2009 00:35:46 PDT
On foot it will take you almost ten minutes to get there, but in the city streets you're faster than any horse or even the new motorcars, and you still haven't managed to get the jetpack working properly (you have yet to find a way of making it small and light enough to carry its own weight, let alone yours as well) so you have no choice but to take the risk that whoever set off the alarm system will already have been gone by the time you get there.

There is a short tunnel that you dug years ago, leading out of your workroom and coming out in the sewers. Originally you had thought they would be the perfect way to move around the city undetected, but there were too many dead ends, blocked passages and flooded tunnels. As well as that, the smell was unbearable and you have no idea how many diseases could be lurking in the brown sludge that fills them.

In the end you simply found the nearest exit onto a dingy backstreet and use the rooftops to navigate the city. You scramble up the side of a building. Missing stones and badly cut edges make it easy to find handholds. Here in the poorer quarter you can jump from rooftop to rooftop with ease. The buildings are crammed in together and badly built.

As you get closer to the higher district where the rich and powerful live, it gets harder and harder to make it to the next rooftop until you have to make your way to street level and run past walled in mansions. Luckily for the Richard family it's so late at night. You would never come here in daylight; the police that patrolled the streets would be after you in an instant. An unfortunate incident last year between a few of the city's heroes and a government official had left all heroes and vigilantes outlawed within the city limits.

When you make it to the Richard family's house--small in comparison to the others in the district, although a palace compared to your own home in the slums--you swing a grappling hook over the wall and haul yourself up. You jump down the other side; your armour absorbs most of the impact.

From inside the building you can hear the alarm still going off, but it is strangely quiet. There are no guards to be seen in the grounds, either, and only one light on inside.

With no guards in sight it is easy for you to make it to the servants entrance and let yourself in. The door isn't even locked. The light you saw from outside is coming from the kitchen. Expensive electric lights are glowing in the ceiling and the main cooking fire is burning brightly. You can smell something burning.

The source of the smell is behind a bench; a batch of bread that has been in the oven for far too long. The cook, however, is unable to do anything about it. You find her body beside the oven. Someone hit her on the back of her head, probably with the heavy cast iron skillet lying on the floor nearby. You check for a pulse; she is dead, and has been for a while.

You're suddenly worried about the family members and other servants.

Who should you check on first?

The other servants-- they probably don't have any guards in the servant's quarters, and one of them has already been killed.
Lord and Lady Richard-- If this isn't a burglary, they are almost definitely the intended targets.
The Richards' children-- There are four of them, and they all sleep in adjacent rooms. The cook has been dead for a while; it's possible the Lord and Lady are already dead, but you may still be able to rescue their children.

Poll: [link]

Notes: Sorry this is so long. There was no place I could end it sooner.

Also, something I find highly amusing: Shortly after I posted the first part of this, *seangordonmurphy started up a CYOA story of his own using the same system of journal entries and polls. I've never, ever seen anyone do one of these before. Some coincidence, huh?

Check his out: [link]

]]> *Akiraine http://Akiraine.deviantart.com/journal/25664493/ http://Akiraine.deviantart.com/journal/25664493/ Wed, 01 Jul 2009 02:02:19 PDT
Mum gave me $10 worth of Instant Kiwis (these are scratchy tickets you get from the lotto counters, for you foreigners). I won $9 from them, hah.

I also received far too much chocolate, but that's ok because most of it got eaten by other people.

Apart from that, being legally an adult isn't that much different from being a minor, except that now I have to pay to visit the dentist.

I hope you all had as good a day as I did.

]]> *Akiraine http://Akiraine.deviantart.com/journal/25596419/ http://Akiraine.deviantart.com/journal/25596419/ Sat, 27 Jun 2009 22:34:27 PDT
You shake your head to wake yourself up completely and read the labels under each one. 'City Bank'. This light flashes once every few months. There's always someone willing to risk bringing down every hero in the city on their heads in exchange for the vast fortunes stored in the vaults. The other two lights belong to the mansions of wealthy upper class families; the Mendal family and the Richard family. Three separate burglaries in one night? In the most well protected city in Europe? It can't be a coincidence.

You think about this as you pull on the armour you made. You hold the distinction of being the only hero in the city to be completely human, relying solely on the armour and various devices you created to help you bring down dangerous criminals.

A lot of the other heroes keep an eye on the City Bank, so it's unlikely you'll be needed there. You should investigate the thefts at one of the mansions. Then again, the wealthy families generally employed their own security guards and were therefore in less danger of being robbed than the Bank.

Where should you go?

The City Bank is the highest priority-- protect the wealth of all the citizens rather than just a few.
The home of the Mendal Family-- it's closer to your home, you'll get there faster.
The home of the Richard Family-- They're poorer and less likely to have a large security force.

Poll: [link]

Notes: It is important which location you choose... each choice will bring you into contact with a different set of characters and objectives. Although the overall story is still the same, it will effect how you progress through the story and what ending you achieve.

Also, Steampunk/Superhero? You couldn't possibly have picked a category I'd find harder to write. I just want you all to know that.

]]> *Akiraine http://Akiraine.deviantart.com/journal/25425407/ http://Akiraine.deviantart.com/journal/25425407/ Fri, 19 Jun 2009 22:38:16 PDT
Second; I'm not quite feeling up to drawing yet (my hands are a bit stiff and sore) so I'm going to start the Choose your own Adventure story tomorrow. It'll have been a week since I posted the poll. If you haven't voted, hurry up and do so (please).

Third, I started updating the feature journal, so go have a look at all that amazing art.

Aaaand fourth: It's my birthday in just under two weeks. The First of July. I'll be eighteen. This means I have the right to vote, drink and buy cigarettes; none of which I'm planning to do (but I do get lots of annoying forms in the mail telling me to register to vote). It also means no more free visits to the doctor or dentist. And since they raised the minimum wage for minors a while back I don't even get a freakin' pay rise. All in all, being eighteen pretty much sucks.

]]> *Akiraine http://Akiraine.deviantart.com/journal/25299878/ http://Akiraine.deviantart.com/journal/25299878/ Sat, 20 Jun 2009 13:37:32 PDT
---

You've all read Choose Your Own Adventure books, yes?

That's what I'll be doing over the next few months, or perhaps even longer, as a creative writing project. I will write a short passage, then post a poll with the options that the reader could take. Whichever option gains the most votes will be the option I write the next passage about. This will continue until the story reaches a conclusion, whether good or bad.

But since it's a choose your own adventure, I need people to be interested. So choose the category you would most enjoy reading a story about from this poll here: [link] and I'll get started in a week or two.

Whichever category is chosen is the type of story I will write, no matter how much I do or do not like the genre. This is my challenge to myself.

Edit: Something else to note! If there is a tie between two categories, I will write something that fits in both-- A sci-fi crime drama! A high fantasy romance! But I won't go up to three categories. That's getting complicated and ridiculous. I'll just delete the one I dislike the most.

Also-- I'd appreciate it very much if people could mention this project to others! The more readers I have, the quicker and easier it is to get votes, a decision made, and the next page written.

Thanks for reading and voting!
-Melina.

]]> *Akiraine http://Akiraine.deviantart.com/journal/25296430/ http://Akiraine.deviantart.com/journal/25296430/ Sat, 13 Jun 2009 18:45:06 PDT Oly-RRR's journal:

RULES:
1. Write a comment on this here journal and I'll feature three or so pieces from your gallery.

2. The only catch is that you then have to do a feature journal, too... Traditionally, featuring me on it to start with, and then the first dozen or so people who write you a comment (Don't bother with this second rule if you don't want to).

1) *Oly-RRR


2) =striffle

I like this one because it's very dramatic looking. Like the poster to an old war movie.

Bread-Fu action... Yup.

I love that he left the pencil drawing in the background. It makes the page look even more interesting that it would have. The page itself is also amazing. I love the night sky in the background, and the poor hapless goons.

Someday I want to learn how to colour like this.

3) ~2ndLtHavoc

Most people around that age can relate to the sense of panic in the first four panels.

Family get-togethers are a great source of comedy.

This just looks amazing. No other word for it.

A stream of consciousness type comic. It contains a music review, some comedy, a couple of anecdotes and a lovely description of a colour (I want to find that colour too).

4) ~loppopoo
*Akiraine http://Akiraine.deviantart.com/journal/24934320/ http://Akiraine.deviantart.com/journal/24934320/ Mon, 25 May 2009 00:06:47 PDT
I think I'll keep this one for good, as my symbol or logo or whatever. It's a stylised M (for Melina, for those who don't know me by my real name). Or rather, it's a stylised version of the Phoenician letter m/mem.

It just looks so damn cool.

Also it makes me look smart.

I was going to use the Greek lower case letter M, because I actually know the Greek alphabet, but, it looks more like a u, which might confuse people...

]]> *Akiraine http://Akiraine.deviantart.com/journal/24900228/ http://Akiraine.deviantart.com/journal/24900228/ Sat, 23 May 2009 01:07:13 PDT
It came with a free gift pass thing that allows a friend to play free for three days. Anyone want it?

]]> *Akiraine http://Akiraine.deviantart.com/journal/24796082/ http://Akiraine.deviantart.com/journal/24796082/ Sat, 16 May 2009 23:27:46 PDT Arkillian's journal.

"If you've seen over 90 films, you have no life. Mark the ones you've seen. There are 244 films on this list. Copy this list, go to your own DA account, paste this in a journal. Then, put x's next to the films you've seen, add them up, change the header adding your number, and click post at the bottom. Have fun."

(X) Rocky Horror Picture Show
(X) Grease
(X) Pirates of the Caribbean
(x) Pirates of the Caribbean 2: Dead Man's Chest
( ) Boondock Saints
( ) Fight Club
(x) Starsky and Hutch
(x) Neverending Story
(x) Blazing Saddles
( ) Airplane
Total: 7

(x) The Princess Bride
( ) Anchorman
(x) Napoleon Dynamite (I hate this movie so much)
(X) Labyrinth
( ) Saw
( ) Saw II
( ) White Noise
( ) White Oleander
(x) Anger Management
(x) 50 First Dates
(x) The Princess Diaries
(x) The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement
Total so far: 15

(x) Harry Potter 1
(x) Harry Potter 2
(x) Harry Potter 3
(x) Harry Potter 4
(x) Resident Evil 1
(x) Resident Evil 2
(x) The Wedding Singer
( ) Little Black Book
(x) The Village
(x) Lilo & Stitch
Total so far: 24

(x) Finding Nemo
(x) Finding Neverland
(x) Signs
(x) The Grinch
( ) Texas Chainsaw Massacre
( ) Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning
( ) White Chicks
( ) Butterfly Effect
( ) 13 Going on 30
(x) I, Robot
(x) Robots
Total so far: 30

(x) Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story
(x) Universal Soldier
(x) Lemony Snicket: A Series Of Unfortunate Events
(x) Along Came Polly
(x) Deep Impact
( ) KingPin
(x) Never Been Kissed
( ) Meet The Parents
( ) Meet the Fockers
( ) Eight Crazy Nights
( ) Joe Dirt
(x) KING KONG
Total so far: 37

(x) A Cinderella Story
(x) The Terminal
(x) The Lizzie McGuire Movie
( ) Passport to Paris
( ) Dumb & Dumber
( ) Dumber & Dumberer
( ) Final Destination
( ) Final Destination 2
( ) Final Destination 3
( ) Halloween
( ) The Ring
( ) The Ring 2
( ) Surviving X-MAS
(x) Flubber
Total so far: 41

( ) Harold & Kumar Go To White Castle
(x) Practical Magic
(x) Chicago
( ) Ghost Ship
(x) From Hell
(x) Hellboy
(x) Secret Window
( ) I Am Sam
( ) The Whole Nine Yards
( ) The Whole Ten Yards
Total so far: 46

(x) The Day After Tomorrow
( ) Child's Play
( ) Seed of Chucky
( ) Bride of Chucky
(x) Ten Things I Hate About You
(x) Just Married
( ) Gothika
( ) Nightmare on Elm Street
( ) Sixteen Candles
( ) Remember the Titans
( ) Coach Carter
( ) The Grudge
( ) The Grudge 2
(x) The Mask
( ) Son Of The Mask
Total so far: 50

(x) Bad Boys
(x) Bad Boys 2
( ) Joy Ride
( ) Lucky Number Sevin
(x) Ocean's Eleven
(x) Ocean's Twelve
(x) Bourne Identity
(x) Bourne Supremacy
( ) Lone Star
(x) Bedazzled
( ) Predator I
( ) Predator II
( ) The Fog
(x) Ice Age
(x) Ice Age 2
(x) Curious George
Total so far: 60


(x) Independence Day
( ) Cujo
( ) A Bronx Tale
( ) Darkness Falls
( ) Christine
(x) ET
( ) Children of the Corn
( ) My Bosses Daughter
(x) Maid in Manhattan
(x) War of the Worlds
(x) Rush Hour
(x) Rush Hour 2
(x) Rush Hour 3
Total so far: 67

( ) Best Bet
(x) How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days
( ) She's All That
(x) Calendar Girls
( ) Sideways
(x) Mars Attacks
( ) Event Horizon
( ) Ever After
(x) Wizard of Oz
(x) Forrest Gump
( ) Big Trouble in Little China
(x) The Terminator
(x) The Terminator 2
(x) The Terminator 3
Total so far: 75

(x) X-Men
(x) X-2
(x) X-3
(x) Spider-Man
(x) Spider-Man 2
(x) Spider-Man 3
(x) Sky High
( ) Jeepers Creepers
( ) Jeepers Creepers 2
( ) Catch Me If You Can
(x) The Little Mermaid
(x) Freaky Friday
(x) Reign of Fire
( ) The Skulls
( ) Cruel Intentions
( ) Cruel Intentions 2
( ) The Hot Chick
(x) Shrek
(x) Shrek 2
(x) Shrek 3
Total so far: 88

( ) Swimfan
( ) Miracle on 34th street
( ) Old School
( ) The Notebook
(x) K-Pax
( ) Krippendorf's Tribe
( ) A Walk to Remember
( ) Ice Castles
( ) Boogeyman
( ) The 40-year-old Virgin
Total so far: 89

(x) Lord of the Rings Fellowship of the Ring
(x) Lord of the Rings The Two Towers
(x) Lord o... ]]> *Akiraine http://Akiraine.deviantart.com/journal/24764050/ http://Akiraine.deviantart.com/journal/24764050/ Fri, 15 May 2009 02:41:49 PDT
I wasn't really expecting much from this film. After all, I never liked Kirk. Why couldn't we get a film about Janeway instead? Or even another one about Picard? Anything but Kirk!

But, I'd forgotten one very important fact: Kirk has a brilliant supporting cast. Spock! Scotty! Uhura! Chekov! Bones! Sulu! And that awesome little alien who was hanging out with Scotty.

I'm sure that Spock's new actor was that brain-eating guy from Heroes, which was a bit weird. But it was great to see they had Leonard Nimoy make an appearance too!

The Romulan ship looked brilliant, as did the, uh, the ship Spock had at one point. I can't say anything about it without giving away a huge plot point.

I know a lot of people prefer old shows with bad special effects but good plots, but the special effects really looked spectacular, and they didn't detract from the plot at all. The black holes, the red matter (which was never scientifically explained) and the space battles were all wonderful.

There were a lot of funny moments too, most of which can be attributed to Scotty and his bean-eating sidekick (someone tell me his name, or at least his species. Please).

The thing I will say about the plot, is that it contains an alternate universe. I can't remember the original series very well, but I'm certain the whole film is set in an alternate timeline, and isn't canon to the main series.

And I notice they've changed the Star Trek speech. No longer 'where no man has gone...' but now, 'where no one has gone'. It's more PC, but it doesn't sound as good.

But the absolute BEST thing about this film?

Spock got the girl.

And Kirk didn't.

]]> *Akiraine http://Akiraine.deviantart.com/journal/24574973/ http://Akiraine.deviantart.com/journal/24574973/ Sun, 03 May 2009 21:44:34 PDT

An OC Tournament called 'Artists at the Ready' (previously known as The Real) has just started taking auditions.

The basic premise is that the artists themselves have been invited to a dimension called The Real and given the power to summon their original characters to fight for them. How awesome is that?

I'd love to enter. The idea of getting to draw a whole comic about myself and a few of my favourite OCs certainly feeds my narcissistic tendencies!

---Advertising:

Awesome artwork: [link]

Some cool stuff going on around dA:
AFLIII: [link]
Secret Wars: [link]
Build a Better Mousetrap: [link]
Ebon Spire OCT: [link]
Artists at the Ready: [link]

If you've got a fun competition or art jam to add to the list, tell me.

---Subscription...

Well, I delayed it for as long as I could, but my subscription ran out. My page is all un-fancy now.

Surprisingly enough, the SW chatroom didn't die with it.

The deal still stands though; subscriptions in exchange for art!

---Free Sketches

Just so you know I haven't forgotten, here are the free sketches I promised to people (closed to more requests, for the sake of my sanity):

1) Tommy Monaghan/Hitman for ~hitokirimaru
2) One of three little Birds for =mangaangel
3) One of his characters for ~2ndLtHavoc
4) Epic battle between two original characters for ~Selecthumor
5) Mad Alyss for ~belliboi
6) Gamer Girl for ~loppopoo Done: [link]
7) Rorschach being Rorschach for ~FileDeleted
8)Sora for ~shibo226

]]> *Akiraine http://Akiraine.deviantart.com/journal/24524889/ http://Akiraine.deviantart.com/journal/24524889/ Fri, 01 May 2009 04:03:13 PDT
I know everyone's been complaining about it, and to be honest so have I, ever since I found out what they'd done to Deadpool, and that they weren't making Gambit's eyes black and red like they should be.

However, these are the only two faults. Seriously, apart from that it was GREAT. And even if they did mess up Deadpool, Wade got his five minutes of snarky irreverent glory near the beginning of the film. Also, it was awesome watching Deadpool take on both Wolverine AND Sabretooth at the same time.

And Gambit! Awesome, truly awesome! The film made me remember how much I loved him even back before I read comics. I loved his character in the film; sort of a reluctant hero who came through in the end and saved everyone's butts. With style. I spent the last part of the film impatiently waiting for him to show up again.

Lots of great action and fight scenes throughout the film as well. It really is worth seeing.

]]> *Akiraine http://Akiraine.deviantart.com/journal/24137625/ http://Akiraine.deviantart.com/journal/24137625/ Wed, 22 Apr 2009 01:50:45 PDT
[link]

Read their policies. It's hilarious.

The best part is, all of the 'joke' political parties we get in NZ consistently get enough votes to almost get a chair in parliament.

---Armageddon '09

I had SO. MUCH. FUN. I Wandered around all day taking photos, talking to people and stalking cosplayers in awesome costumes. They played some awesome movies and stuff, including the Wonder Woman animated film, a preview of the GL animated film, Hulk vs Thor and an anime called 'The Girl Who Leapt Through Time'.
Some graphic designer company had a tablet set up to a projector, so I spent a while drawing a really cool picture of Charybdis... which the next guy to use it promptly erased. Dangit, he could have let me take a photo first.
I lurked around the dA booth for a while, hoping to absorb some artistic awesomeness.
I walked round and round the entrance way to pick up more of the bags they were handing out to newcomers. As a result, I got about five bars of chocolate... and five tubs of something called 'Easy Mac'. I DO NOT recommend it. It tastes like nuclear waste (this is, of course, speculation. I'm not actually certain what nuclear waste tastes like).
And at night I stayed in a dorm at the backpackers with a bunch of cool people. Because of this, I got very little sleep and ended up missing the first half of school on Monday. I have a black mark on my record!

I spent close to $300 dollars, too. List of acquisitions:

x1 t-shirt with the Flash logo.
x1 leather wrist band.
x8 badges with various awesome pictures and slogans on them.
x1 slice of vege pizza.
x1 loaf of garlic bread.
x1 bottle of coke.
'Runaways: Dead End Kids,' hardcover.
All five issues of 'Final Crisis: Revelations'.
'Catwoman: Crooked Little Town.'
'Doctor Mid-Nite.'
'Image Comics: Powers' volumes one and two.
'Will Eisner's The Spirit' by Darwin Cooke.
'The Dreaming' volume three, signed by Queenie Chan.
'Fullmetal Alchemist' DVDs, volumes six and seven.
The following pieces of art from the dA booth: [link] [link] [link]

I put Doctor Who and the Mission Impossible poster on my wall, where they look awesome. I'll have to upload an updated photo of my art wall. I'm slowly working my way towards completely covering up my ugly walls.

---Advertising:

Awesome artwork: [link]

Some cool stuff going on around dA:
AFLIII: [link]
Secret Wars: [link]
Build a Better Mousetrap: [link]
Ebon Spire OCT: [link]

If you've got a fun competition or art jam to add to the list, tell me.

---Ebon Spire:

Yup. I just got out of the stress of working on AFLIII as well as Secret Wars, and now I'm going to audition for ANOTHER one.

Edit: No, wait. On second thoughts. This chapter of SW looks like it's going to be a lot of work, and I'd much rather do a good job of that than stress over two different things. So, no Ebon Spire. Maybe Ill do something different with the audition I've already started working on.

---Subscription...

Well, I delayed it for as long as I could, but my subscription ran out. My page is all un-fancy now.

Surprisingly enough, the SW chatroom didn't die with it.

---Free Sketches

Just so you know I haven't forgotten, here are the free sketches I promised to people (closed to more requests, for the sake of my sanity):

1) Tommy Monaghan/Hitman for ~hitokirimaru
2) One of three little Birds for =mangaangel
3) One of his characters for ~2ndLtHavoc
4) Epic battle between two original characters for ~Selecthumor
5) Mad Alyss for ~belliboi
6) Gamer Girl for ~lop... ]]> *Akiraine http://Akiraine.deviantart.com/journal/23665261/ http://Akiraine.deviantart.com/journal/23665261/ Thu, 02 Apr 2009 10:23:32 PDT
We're heading off directly after school today for Wellington. We'll get there at about midnight. Yes, we're taking the Ferry. Lots of time in which to do absolutely nothing, so I'd better take a book or two.

We'll be back late Sunday night.

See you all then.

---Advertising:

Some cool stuff going on around dA:
AFLIII: [link]
Secret Wars: [link]
Build a Better Mousetrap: [link]
Ebon Spire OCT: [link]

If you've got a fun competition or art jam to add to the list, tell me.

---Subscription...

Well, I delayed it for as long as I could, but my subscription ran out. My page is all un-fancy now.

Surprisingly enough, the SW chatroom didn't die with it.

---Free Sketches

Just so you know I haven't forgotten, here are the free sketches I promised to people (closed to more requests, for the sake of my sanity):

1) Tommy Monaghan/Hitman for ~hitokirimaru
2) One of three little Birds for =mangaangel
3) One of his characters for ~2ndLtHavoc
4) Epic battle between two original characters for ~Selecthumor
5) Mad Alyss for ~belliboi
6) Gamer Girl for ~loppopoo Done: [link]
7) Rorschach being Rorschach for ~FileDeleted
8)Sora for ~shibo226

]]> *Akiraine http://Akiraine.deviantart.com/journal/22674666/ http://Akiraine.deviantart.com/journal/22674666/ Mon, 19 Jan 2009 13:47:30 PST
If you asked my opinion of it face to face, I would break out in hysterical laughter for about five minutes then grin like an idiot and tell you it was awful. One of the worst films I have ever seen. And I couldn't be happier. Finally, the world will know what an utterly terrible writer/director Frank Miller is.

He has proven that he has absolutely no concept of how a good film works. The plot was slow and weak and the dialogue was painful. Sure, some of the action scenes were pretty good. Too bad I couldn't see them because of this weird 'mostly black with a little bit of white' thing he overdid. Oh, and toilets? Not funny. Really. And what the hell was up with that random bit in the middle when the villains are dressed up as Nazis? Also, Samuel Jackson should never wear make up.

That bit with Muffin the kitten? It makes me even more certain that Miller is a sick, sick bastard.

]]> *Akiraine http://Akiraine.deviantart.com/journal/22662066/ http://Akiraine.deviantart.com/journal/22662066/ Sun, 18 Jan 2009 20:55:05 PST
Work was HARD. We were doing up to 12 hour days, and we worked on the weekends too. Almost all I did was eat, sleep and work. I didn't have the energy to do any drawing or anything.Then on Friday night we drove all the way to Christchurch, and I was dragged out to a bar where everyone proceeded to get drunk. Have you ever been the only non-drinker in a crowd of drunken family and friends? It's unpleasant. They didn't leave until after midnight, by which time I was shattered, then stayed up until some ungodly hour of the morning talking. Then I was woken up at six in the morning, then there was a party/barbeque thing that night, which of course went until about two in the morning. Then I was woken up at six. All in all, I was pretty damn tired when we got home.

I got to ride an electric scooter today. I thought it would be hard to ride, but it took all of ten seconds to get the hang of it. I want one.

]]> *Akiraine http://Akiraine.deviantart.com/journal/22221151/ http://Akiraine.deviantart.com/journal/22221151/ Sat, 27 Dec 2008 05:45:52 PST [link]

And a great TV miniseries I watched recently (and would like to talk about, since I can't get my own family to listen to me) is Tin Man. It is based roughly on the Wizard of Oz, but with a much more dystopian and science fiction feel to it (Not as much as Wicked, though. That was just depressing). It still falls well within the bounds of the fantasy genre. The OZ is the 'Other Zone'. The main characters are all versions of Dorothy and her friends.There's DG (Dorothy Gale. Geddit?) whose parents turn out to be robots sent to our world to look after her after her sister, Azkadelia, tries to kill her. She gets sucked back into the OZ when Az sends some Longcoats (her generic thugs) to kill her. Next is Glitch/Ambrose, the 'scarecrow'. A genius inventor, Az has most of his brain removed to get the designs for a machine she needs. He ends up wandering the OZ plagued by memory 'glitches', and meets DG when they're both prisoners of the overly paranoid Munchkins. Wyatt Cain appears next, a Tin Man; the OZ's name for the Central City law enforcement officers. He's pretty much your standard angsty guardian character. And off they go along the Brick Road until they find Raw, the cowardly lion, and save him from some giant bug things. Toto appears much later; a shape-shifter who can take the form of a small dog with a very annoying bark. Near the end Dorothy Gale herself makes a brief appearance.

As good as it was it could have been so much better, if only the writers had looked for plot holes in the script at the very start. It's somewhat depressing. There is more than one gaping hole in the story, and they are easy to spot if you're paying even the slightest amount of attention.

Some other problems: Some of the acting is pretty bad. The flying monkeys are not at all lovable, which goes against all the laws of nature (If Curious George has taught me anything, it is that all monkeys should be adorable, dammit). Az had incredibly stupid hairstyles and dresses. Also, they overused flashbacks just a bit.

But despite all its failings, I loved watching it. I imagine the costume designer had a lot of fun (although I can't forgive them for some of Az's dreses). Some of the acting was actually quite good. Whoever wrote it had a sense of humour. And the overall idea of the whole series was just brilliant. I love re-imaginings of old stories.

If you're wondering, my favourite part of the show was when Glitch and the Tin Man had to break DG and Raw out of Az's tower.

]]> *Akiraine http://Akiraine.deviantart.com/journal/21815815/ http://Akiraine.deviantart.com/journal/21815815/ Thu, 04 Dec 2008 13:26:31 PST
The audition phase of the Desire OCT involves the entrant's character finding the Grimoire of Tureil. I've been reading through some of the auditions, and a few people seem to think that the Grimoire of Turiel is a place.

In actual fact a grimoire is a book of magic, usually giving instructions on how to summon or contact angels and demons. And now you have no excuse for getting it wrong.

Also, Turiel was an angel, and there is actually a book in existence called the Secret Grimoire of Turiel. You can read it here, although I'm not sure how accurate an internet copy would be [link] I haven't read much past the introduction.

]]> *Akiraine http://Akiraine.deviantart.com/journal/21689786/ http://Akiraine.deviantart.com/journal/21689786/ Wed, 26 Nov 2008 22:23:19 PST any health expert.

Here's how it works: I'm not putting a limit on the number of sketches I will do. I'll simply keep adding to the list and work my way through them whenever I feel like drawing. You can request a maximum of two sketches per person, but the second request goes at the bottom of the list. If I don't get through them all by the end of the holidays, it's tough. The sooner you get in, the more likely it is I will finish your request.

You can ask for sketches of almost anything. There are, of course, things I won't draw. If your request is something I won't draw, you don't get to ask for something different, so don't ask for: mechs, more than two characters in one sketch, complicated backgrounds, characters I don't like (you get to guess whether or not I like a character) or scantily clad/naked people.

Requests:

1) Tommy Monaghan/Hitman for ~hitokirimaru
2) One of three little Birds for =mangaangel
3) One of his characters for ~2ndLtHavoc
4) Epic battle between two original characters for ~Selecthumor
5) Mad Alyss for ~belliboi
6) Gamer Girl for ~loppopoo
7) Rorschach being Rorschach for ~FileDeleted
8)Sora for ~shibo226

]]> *Akiraine http://Akiraine.deviantart.com/journal/21364458/ http://Akiraine.deviantart.com/journal/21364458/ Sat, 22 Nov 2008 02:21:15 PST
Help? Please?

Webcomic Strip links:
001 [link]
002 [link]
003 [link]
004 [link]
005 [link]
006 [link]
007 [link]
008 [link]

Also, the comic's page at Smackjeeves: [link]

Other Webcomic:
Under construction. Coming soon. Whenever I get time to draw a few pages. I've written quite a bit, however right now I have exams and various other things to keep me occupied, including an entry for *Kostmeyer's dA Secret Wars project. Check it out, it looks like a lot of fun: [link]

Also, the comic's page at Smackjeeves: [link]

I had a different account at Smackjeeves with a cooler name from years and years ago, but I seem to have lost it (I can't remember exactly what that cooler name was...)

]]> *Akiraine http://Akiraine.deviantart.com/journal/21025391/ http://Akiraine.deviantart.com/journal/21025391/ Fri, 17 Oct 2008 00:27:13 PDT
My computer is now well and truly dead, despite numerous trips to the computer equivalent of a doctor. Mum got fed up and tried to fix it herself (I'm not kidding. She didn't listen to me screaming at her not to touch it, but I think the neighbours heard). She poked around in it for a while and, wonder of wonders, only made things worse. Then she said she was going to set the laptop up in my room for the internet. Then she made me do it. Then she got annoyed because outlook express hasn't been set up on this computer. I told her there was a lot more to setting up a new computer than just plugging in the right cords. She never listens when I tell her anything. So I have this stupid laptop sitting in front of my computer. It makes everything look distorted, the keyboard is a pain, and it doesn't like my scanner. I have a stack of art sitting here waiting for me to figure out how to make the scanner work.

And, the highlight of the week, it turns out that when season one of Torchwood ended the next season started immediately after. I missed the first episode.

Also, I finally got around to watching Dr Horrible's Sing-Along Blog. I highly recommend it. It was brilliant.

]]> *Akiraine http://Akiraine.deviantart.com/journal/20852758/ http://Akiraine.deviantart.com/journal/20852758/ Mon, 06 Oct 2008 05:03:30 PDT
Alright, maybe not. But I've spent all week wanting to watch more Doctor Who stuff. I found out that Sarah Jane Smith has her own spin off series, just like Captain Jack has Torchwood. Unfortunately I can't find it anywhere. I may have to resort to buying it over the internet. I have a friend who buys all the Doctor Who box sets as they come out and has to lend them to the two other Doctor Who fans in our circle of friends, so it's only fair that I get Torchwood and the Sarah Jane Adventures series.

I didn't get to talk about the Finale with her, because family prevented her from seeing it, so I'm talking about it here instead, or at least until she gets the new season.

The season finale of Doctor Who was epic. It was about two and a half hours long, and it featured the return of absolutely every recurring character from the new seasons, even Rose, Jackie and Mickey Smith! As well as some of the Torchwood and Sarah Jane Adventures cast: Sarah Jane's son, Mister Smith the computer, K-9, Gwen, and Jack's boyfriend whose name I probably shouldn't try to spell. Janto or something.

And Harriet Jones, former Prime Minister! I was so happy when she showed up. The only thing that's ever annoyed me about the Doctor is that he dethroned her because he disagreed with her about something. Anyway, she organised the Doctor's troops and sent a message to him, but then the Daleks got her. She died showing them her ID and saying, "Harriet Jones, former Prime Minister." The Daleks said "We KNOW who you are," before killing her. It was the end she would have wanted...

Eventually all the major players make it to the Dalek flagship for their showdown with the Doctor's number one enemy (except Martha, who is off being badass by herself). Jack gets shot (again...). Then Donna gets stuck in the TARDIS and uses the spare energy from the Doctor's earlier regeneration (he got shot too) to create Doctor 2.0, and accidentally downloads his mind into herself and becomes Doctor Donna (this had been foreshadowed, like every plot point in Doctor Who. The Ood called her Doctor Donna). When they're done kicking Dalek butt, they take Rose and Jackie back to their universe (Mickey opts to stay in this one) and they leave Doctor 2.0 there for her to look after. Donna;s brain starts melting because of all the information she absorbed so he has to wipe her memory and revert her into the annoying person she used to be. I feel sorry for her Granddad mostly, he was so proud of her.

Incidentally, you'd think that since I installed a British spell checker onto my browser, it wouldn't tell me I'd spelt Dalek wrong.

The finale of Torchwood was slightly less epic. It was the first season, not the second season. I have no idea when season two will make its way to NZ television. Anyway, they pretty much borrowed the plot from the Doctor Who episode 'The Satan Pit'. There was a giant evil monster under the rift and it manipulated the cast into opening the rift and releasing it. It did some weird stuff to the time stream, including bringing the black plague into the present and letting a Roman Legionnaire loose in London.

When it was free it ate the lives of anyone who came into its shadow. So Jack, who has unlimited lives, went onto its shadow and overloaded it. The lack of epic plot was made up for by the fact that Jack is so badass. Also Rhys finally got murdered. It was obviously coming. Then Gwen and the others went crazy and opened the rift to get him back and fix the other things that had gone wrong. And Owen shot Jack in the head when he tried to stop them opening the rift. Oops. Then at the very end of the episode, the Doctor's old hand, which Jack creepily keeps hanging around the HQ, starts to glow and you hear the TARDIS. Then you have to go watch the relevant season of Doctor Who to find out where he went (the Doctor makes him give the hand back. It then spends its time hanging around in the TARDIS creeping out his companions and eventually playing a big part in the creation of Doctor 0.2 in the season finale).

...I still think Jack only became so popular with the masses because he kissed the Doctor before Rose ever did. There. I said it.

]]> *Akiraine http://Akiraine.deviantart.com/journal/17963345/ http://Akiraine.deviantart.com/journal/17963345/ Mon, 21 Apr 2008 17:38:20 PDT
Was freaking awesome. I got to watch JL: New Frontier and the Dr Strange movie on large screen, there was an anime music concert by Lisa Furukawa, an eating contest (I arrived in time to watch the onion eating contest... heheh).

I also got to meet Marv Wolfman and Nicola Scott. I was too nervous to give them the pictures I'd drawn for them, so Mum had to do it while I hid in the animation centre.

I went to Marv Wolfman's comic panel, too. He asked if anyone had any questions, so I stuck my hand up.
Me: In the intoduction to Crisis on Infinite Earths, you said--
Wolfman: You're going to ask about the Barry Allen thing, aren't you?
Me: ...Yeah.
Wolfman: It's long and complicated and I got tired of answering that question, so I put the answer on my website.

There were dozens of booths selling cheap comics, so my bags were a few kilos heavier on the way home. I got some good ones. Batgirl: Deathwish, JSA: Darkness Falls, Robin: Wanted, two issues of the new Raven limited series (both signed by Marv Wolfman...) and a few others.

There were also an amazing amount of cosplayers wandering around. A Dalek, three Axels, four Renos, Vulcans, hoards of Bleach people, Storm Troopers, Spartans, Ghost Busters and a Master Chief. Not to mention that Weta Workshops had a booth there, and the Warthog they built was on display.

There was a dA booth, with the following artists:

---Tournament:

~Tofubeast ~Shihochan and another person whose name I can't spell are holding a fun-looking tournament. I might not be able to enter, so I'm just advertising it

[link]

---Free Sketches: CLOSED

1) ~Dub-T - Done: [link]
2) ~Selecthumor - Done: [link]
3) ~hitokirimaru - Done: [link]
4) ~dan-sch - Done: [link]
5) *NetizenRon - Done: [link]
6) *valemeister - Done: [link]
7) *vagabondx - Cricketeer
8) ~Tofubeast - Done: [link]
9) ~2ndLtHavoc - Done: [link]
10) ~mangaangel - Jimaican Spider

---To Do List:

-The extra ending to my SDL duel against Select
-Illustrations for Mum's picture book
-More free sketches

]]> *Akiraine http://Akiraine.deviantart.com/journal/17824389/ http://Akiraine.deviantart.com/journal/17824389/ Sun, 13 Apr 2008 01:44:49 PDT
Apart from that, though, I love the series. I love it for it's deep storyline, well rounded characters, and beautiful designs.

Ok, that's a lie. I love it for it's epic fight scenes and equally epic soundtrack

(And Tres Iqus. Finally, a robot who sounds like a robot!)

More often than not the story drags on. Alot of the characters are flat and predictable, and the storyline was hard to follow in some places. The ending left so many loose ends that it's fraying.

Trinity Blood is worth watching, however, solely for the brilliant fight scenes and the wonderful musical score that accompanies it.

(And Tres Iqus.)

I'm practising writing reviews because I was somehow dragged into writing for the schools magazine. Ugh.

---Another Home:

We've bought a new house. Which means we're moving again. This is the fourth time we've moved in as many years, and will be the sixth time I've moved in my life.

Needless to say, I'm getting sick of it.

But our new house isn't too bad. There's a huge shed for Dad to keep all his junk in, enough land to keep Mum happily gardening for years, and, most importantly, three bedrooms.

That said, it still needs alot of work. Me and Dad were ripping out some bizarre, slipshod shelving when we noticed there was a wall where there shouldn't be. About a meter by two meters of walled in nothingness between the master bedroom and the hallway. Maybe it's a secret passage? So we ripped a wall out.

Nope, it's a walled up fireplace. And so I spent all morning carting demolished chimney concrete outside. My hair is so thick with concrete dust that it's setting.

Also, my new room is pink. PINK. That's even worse than the baby blue and pale yellow I have now!

---Tournament:

~Tofubeast ~Shihochan and another person whose name I can't spell are holding a fun-looking tournament. I might not be able to enter, so I'm just advertising it

[link]

---Free Sketches: CLOSED

1) ~Dub-T - Done: [link]
2) ~Selecthumor - Done: [link]
3) ~hitokirimaru - Done: [link]
4) *dan-sch - Done: [link]
5) *NetizenRon - Done: [link]
6) *valemeister - Done: [link]
7) *vagabondx - Cricketeer
8) ~Tofubeast - Rorschach
9) ~2ndLtHavoc - Willis
10) ~mangaangel - Jimaican Spider

---To Do List:

-The extra ending to my SDL duel against Select
-Illustrations for Mum's picture book
-More free sketches

]]> *Akiraine http://Akiraine.deviantart.com/journal/15324044/ http://Akiraine.deviantart.com/journal/15324044/ Thu, 01 Nov 2007 21:45:03 PDT
Q: Does it ever get windy in New Zealand? I have never seen it rain on TV, how do the plants grow? (UK).

A: We import all plants fully grown and then just sit around watching them die.

Q: Will I be able to see kiwi birds in the street? (USA)

A: Depends how much you've been drinking.

Q: I want to walk from Auckland to Wellington - can I follow the railroad tracks? (Sweden)

A: Sure, it's only three thousand miles, take lots of water.

Q: Are there any ATMs (cash machines) in New Zealand? Can you send me a list of them in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Queenstown ? (UK)

A: What did your last slave die of?

Q: Can you give me some information about hippo racing in New Zealand? (USA)

A: A-fri-ca is the big triangle shaped continent south of Europe. New-Zea-land is that island in the middle of the Pacific which does not have any ... oh forget it. Sure, the hippo racing is every Tuesday night in Auckland city. Come naked.

Q: Which direction is North in New Zealand? (USA)

A: Face south and then turn 180 degrees. Contact us when you get here and we'll send the rest of the directions.

Q: Can I bring cutlery into New Zealand? (UK)

A: Why? Just use your fingers like we do.

Q: Can you send me the Vienna Boys' Choir schedule? (USA)

A: New-zea-land is that quaint little country, which is ... oh forget it. Sure, the Vienna Boys Choir plays every Tuesday night in Auckland city, straight after the hippo races. Come naked.

Q: Can I wear high heels in New Zealand? (UK)

A: You are a British politician, right?

Q: Are there supermarkets in Auckland and is milk available all year round? (Germany)

A: No, we are a peaceful civilization of vegan hunter/gatherers. Milk is illegal.

Q: Please send a list of all doctors in New Zealand who can dispense spider serum. (USA)

A: Poisonous spiders live in A-mer-i-ca which is where YOU come from. All New Zealand spiders are perfectly harmless, can be safely handled and make good pets. You should find some for yourself when you get here. Especially the ones with white tails.

(Note: White tailed spiders are NZ's only dangerous spider)

Q: I have a question about a famous animal in New Zealand, but I forget its name. It's a kind animal and lives in trees. (USA)

A: It's called a Drop Bear. They are so called because they drop out of Gum trees and eat the brains of anyone walking underneath them. You can scare them off by spraying yourself with human urine before you go out walking.

(Note: Actually it's probably a possum)

Q: I have developed a new product that is the fountain of youth. Can you tell me where I can sell it in New Zealand? (USA)

A: Anywhere significant numbers of Americans gather.

Q: Can you tell me the regions in Auckland where the female population is smaller than the male population? (Italy)

A: Yes, gay night clubs.

Q: Do you celebrate Christmas in New Zealand? (France)

A: Only at Christmas.

Q: I was in New Zealand in 1969 on R+R, and I want to contact the Girl I dated while I was staying in Wellington. Can you help? (USA)

A: Yes, and you will still have to pay her by the hour.

Q: Will I be able to speak English most places I go? (USA)

A: Yes, but you'll have to learn it first.

Q: My friend said that sand flies are really bad in New Zealand. What can I do about them?

A: Nothing. Sand flies are a protected species and killing them is an offence punishable with fines of up to $500.

Q: What’s a Maori?

A: A small bird. Watch out for them, in large flocks they can attack and kill even humans.

Q: What part of Australia is New Zealand in?

A: New Zealand is actually another name for Ayers Rock.

]]> *Akiraine http://Akiraine.deviantart.com/journal/14611511/ http://Akiraine.deviantart.com/journal/14611511/ Thu, 13 Sep 2007 00:45:10 PDT
People who are unhealthily thin and still complain about being too fat. I'm fairly certain they only do it to make every overweight person in the vicinity want to beat them over the head with a set of bathroom scales.

People who drive up and down a street all day on a loud scooter for no apparent reason.

Going into a supermarket then realising halfway through that almost every item of food in my backpack had been bought there a day earlier, then spending the next ten minutes trying very hard not to look suspicious, and looking suspicious because I'm trying not too.

Spiders.

People I dislike or don't know who sit down beside me without asking, then act offended when I move away. (I just don't like 'em, ok? It's not a crime to be anti-social.)

"This is a stupid yellow sign" signs. They also come in "This is a stupid yellow sticker" stickers, "This is a stupid yellow badge" badges, and "This is a stupid yellow pencil" pencils.

People who slow down at accidents to get a good look. Remember folks; it's not the accident that causes the traffic jams, it's the nosy people.

Spiders.

Little kids.

People who think I should like little kids.

Word of the week: Sarchasm. The gaping rift between the author of sarcastic wit and the reader who doesn't get it. (Whoever came up with this word was a genius.)

I hope this journal entry hath afforded ye some small amusement

]]> *Akiraine http://Akiraine.deviantart.com/journal/11379714/ http://Akiraine.deviantart.com/journal/11379714/ Tue, 09 Jan 2007 19:43:37 PST
Then I though "Why not go all out?" and started writing a story version of it, with the same storyline, but deeper; more based on the characters and the story than the fighting. I was thinking I should post it on fanfiction.net, then I decided I didn't want too. I don't like ff.net much.

So maybe I should post it on dA? Or maybe I'll just let my sister read it them let it sink out of my memory.

But I'll deffinitely post the pictures I drew here. I'm quite proud of them >_>

This is a review of Guardian's Crusade I wrote for school...

I was digging through a box of junk, and I found a game called Guardian's Crusade. It was the very first RPG I ever got. Ever. I had this even before we had a PS2. I played it on my Aunt's playstation. I was so happy that I found it. I've been playing it heaps since I found it, because I never actually finished it.

In all honestly, it's not a very good game in some ways.
The graphics totally suck.
The battle system is clunky and basic (Attack? Defend? Or Item? Oh yeah, or you could run. You don't even get a choice of attacks to use. You do get more options after the Elder teaches you how to use the living toys and when Baby joins your quest though).
It's very nearly impossible to find anything.
Knight moves at an annoyingly slow pace that has you bouncing around and throwing the controller at the wall, until you realize that the analogue controller makes him walk faster. Then you feel like throwing the controller across the room in embarrassment.
The monsters are either way too easy or way too hard to beat.
Nehani (your fairy sidekick) won't let you steal the pill that makes you grow taller.


But in other ways it's great.
The story was very original when it came out, and still is fairly original.
The characters are very imaginative.
The sound track is great (I love the main theme. I reset the PS2 over and over just to listen to it).
And Baby is just plain, outright adorable. It's kind of a mix between a rabbit, a bat, and a pig. But it is cute.

But, above all, it's the very first RPG I ever played. It's sentimental value it through the roof.

And if you just read all that, well done. You may now wander off and forget everything I just wrote.

]]> *Akiraine