Language Of The Mad

So yeah, I downloaded this game finally and it's been really great so far. Graphics are a bit less awesome than I expected but oh well. Anyway I just took screenshots and GIMP'd around with them and made some images, so here we are:

Here's my bridge crew so far, consisting of (left to right), Ensign Eyra Sar (Trill), Captain Thomas Nathan "Manatee" Xin (Human), Ensign R'Shee (Andorian), and Ensign Jhril (Andorian):



and here's my ship, the U.S.S. Nelson, NCC-93403, Miranda class variant:

Pic 1
Pic 2
Pic 3
Pic 4


Most likely will be upgrading ship class soon to something more practical like a Constitution refit or something, and equip more than two phaser banks and a torpedo launcher, but this one's served me well thus far.

so yeah fun stuff.

Just finally got it after all these years. Made a male science officer (named Tom Nathan Xin ) for a captain and got a Centaur class ship (could've been worse I suppose) which I named the USS Nelson. I have no idea what I'm doing, been so long since I played games with a keyboard. Also the graphics are nowhere near as good as I had thought, but that's probably due to my computer's lack of a video card.

Still, I think it'll be really fun once I get into it and get myself a better ship.

So here's my new bass in person, just in case there was any doubt of its existence.

Plays like a dream.

Anyway, it's been awhile so I just thought I'd spew my recent doings and goings on. First off I have my music college audition tomorrow morning (for bass instead of guitar as I had originally planned), so that's exciting/terrifying.

I also got a phone though seeing as I have only two contacts and have received a single phone call (from myself; testing my ringtone ) I'm not sure how necessary it was. Bought some records, my collection's up to about 110 now I think, and I've been watching Castle still, alongside DS9 and I've started on Stargate: SG-1. Have to get my wisdom teeth pulled this month... that makes three scheduled dentist appointments (and here I thought I took care of my teeth )

uuuuh looking forward to the new Star Trek and Iron man movies, as well as a bunch of albums scheduled for this year...

That's all, I think. It's not much but it's something I suppose.

Ran me about $870 CAD, what with tax and shipping and all, but luckily my dad helped out and paid for half of it (thanks dad). I saw this back in 2008 and knew I wanted it but was never interested in learning bass as anything more than a hobby. But now I find myself liking bass more than guitar, surprisingly, and figured I'd go with my dream guitar. It's gotten 5-star reviews accross the board without a single complaint and is super rare.

I managed to order the only one currently available in Canada.

...anyone else here watch this show? I've been obsessing over it for weeks. Caskett FTW

My copy of the limited edition deluxe set of Coheed's "The Afterman" finally came yesterday. They had some problems with lyric printing and stuff, thus the delay. Still, it's here now, and good lord is it gorgeous!


Descension being spun
a taste of the inside


So yeah, and after reading the story in the book, it's amazing how good it is. Complete with some important moral decisions and plot twists, it's a really fantastic read.

Really really recommend this album to anyone half interested in progressive rock or metal or even more rockish punk.

In no particular order due to indecision:

Octavarium by Dream Theater (24:00)
2112 by Rush (20:33)
Supper's Ready by Genesis (23:05)
Gates Of Delirium by Yes (21:49)
Shine On You Crazy Diamond by Pink Floyd (26:11)

Honourable mentions:

The Ivory Gate Of Dreams by Fates Warning (21:21)
The Revealing Science Of God/Dance Of The Dawn by Yes (22:22)

It really surprises me how few of them/us like Star Trek. I mean, it's the show that, while not quite pioneering the genre, really opened up the possibilities. It even planted the seeds for a lot of the technology we actually use today, like sliding doors, cellphones and even the bridge schematics for navy vessels.

Yet when I talk to other science fiction fans, and go through the list "Do you like Doctor Who? How about Star Wars? Firefly? Stargate?" They're pretty much all a resounding "yeah!". And then you ask about Star Trek and everyone's like "eh... It's okay but kinda' boring." or worse.

Why is that? It's got everything the other shows have (cool ships, deep plots, likeable characters) except for a ton of explosions, but then you watch DS9 or Voyager and the entirety of the last 3 seasons are explosions.

I just don't get what makes people so wary of such a classic and genre-defining show.

...is what I've been listening to lately. Technically it's Symphonic Power metal, but I simplified it for you non-metal-nerds.

Thing is, I've been enjoying the slow, calm ballads most. So Opera Metal minus the Metal equals... opera.

SO yeah I'm enjoying opera now.


The metalhead in me feels I should burn my metal card now.

So maybe I was bad and illegally downloaded the leak of this album because my special edition vinyl ws delayed.

Then again, maybe not.


aaaaaaaaanyway HOLY FREAKING CARP is it awesome. The Hard Sell, Number City, and Gravity's Union are all on a level of greatness that matches such Coheed classics as 21:13, The Willing Well II or Gravemakers & Gunslingers, while Away We Go and 2's My Favourite 1 are bouncy, upbeat poppy songs that just give you the urge to sing along.

It's a lot lighter of an album than Ascension was, but with both halves combined into one 84-minute album (bit short for a double album lol) the heavy and light really seem very well balanced.

I've so far listened to this album (ascension along with it for the full effect) at least 20 times and I'm just getting started.


I recommend any level of Coheed fan to get this ASAP. Even if you don't know them, check out a few of the songs I mentioned. There's so many different styles there's bound to be something you'll like.

Why have I not watched this show ages ago?

Of course now I'll have to deal with withdrawal symptoms once it's criminally short time is over, but still. This show is one of the best I've ever seen.

I just watched this movie at the insistence of a friend. I don't think I'll be watching it again.

After all this time saying it looks boring/dumb, I kinda' think I should maybe try it first. However buying it is a pain so I dunno', I'll have to look into it.

Might be fun though, even if I dislike the game, to roam around with friends and stuff. I dunno'.

Loot from my US trip:

CDs:
-Killing Is My Business... by Megadeth
-Hidden Treasures by Megadeth
-The World Needs A Hero by Megadeth
-Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe by Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe
-Eve by The Alan Parsons Project
-Roll The Bones by Rush
-Vapour Trails by Rush

Vinyl:
-I-Robot by The Alan Parsons Project
-Eve by The Alan Parsons Project
-The Turn Of A Friendly Card by The Alan Parsons Project
-Ammonia Avenue by The Alan Parsons Project
-Stereotomy by The Alan Parsons Project
-Worship Music by Anthrax (Orange vinyl)
-Tarkus by ELP
-Welcome Back My Friends, To The Show That Never Ends - Ladies And Gentlemen by ELP
-Works: Volume 1 by ELP
-Works: Volume 2 by ELP
-Trespass by Genesis
-The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway by Genesis
-Wind & Wuthering by Genesis
-M.U. The Best Of Jethro Tull by Jethro Tull
-...And Justice For All by Metallica
-S&M with the San Francisco Orchestra by Metallica
-No Jacket Required by Phil Collins
-The Division Bell by Pink Floyd (Blue Vinyl)
-Sheer Heart Attack by Queen
-Power Windows by Rush
-Fish Out Of Water by Chris Squire
-The Grand Illusion by Styx
-Crisis? What Crisis? by Supertramp
-Going For The One by Yes
-90125 by Yes

Holy ######. Stoked.