ToM Dracone

I'm ... being ... MOCed? Wow. That was a surprise. Not at all a bad one, though. I've always liked your MOCing style (and the BCfly is no exception; I still need to review that), so I can't wait to see how this turns out ...

Goodness, it's been a while since we've had one of these. Almost two years since the last one, not counting EpicFest. But meh. The theme is different from either of the previous SSCs, so ... Go check it out! – ToM

Oooh. Creepy. I think I like this one the best of your Halloween stories (of which I particularly like the entry titles). It's probably the idea of ghosts living happily together, coming out on Halloween (and the never-ending candy supply is a nice touch). The two girls being dressed as angels is also interesting, as they're both dead ... There was one confusing part, though, in that it was sometimes hard for me to tell which girl was being referred to. An unfortunate consequence of having both principal characters being female and interacting. "Of course! She can't see her! She'll have to stand in front of her. She promptly moved to the front." I think this in particular would be better rendered as some form of thought (and in italics), so that it's in first person so we know it's the little girl speaking. Thinking. Although the line "She was the spitting image of herself" is effectively ambiguous, because it could be either girl looking at the other. I think one of the reasons I like it is that it's both a Halloween story and has a happy ending. I'm not really one for scary stories ...

Double, double, toil and trouble, Fire burn and cauldron bubble ... That's right – today is Halloween. And Macbeth is the obvious thing to quote. It's grey and windy up here, excellent Halloween weather, were it not for the fact that it might lead to rain. As it is, though, it's very haunting and foreboding. Maybe I'll finally finish my vampire story. Fitting night to do so. I've been quite busy lately, hence my general absense from BZP – Friday was my school's Halloween dance, then I had a project to do for History over the weekend, and yesterday I had the combination of a lot of homework and finally putting up Halloween decorations. Plus another thing, which you'll find out about later, and I'm also working on an MOC for the Samhain season because I've had little to no time to work on my original Halloween MOC. My Hewkii review and Roodaka drawing have progressed (taken pictures of the former and added detail on the latter), but I won't have much time for either until the end of this week. I'm not going Trick-or-Treating, but I'm still dressing up – as Erik, the Phantom of the Opera. I actually won "Creepiest Costume" at the dance, and I wore the assembly to school today with fun results. (Although this is one of those times I wish I wore contacts. Glasses and a mask are an uncomfortable combination, but I can't see otherwise.) Tonight I plan to open the door in full costume with the overture to Phantom playing in the background. Much fun. And finally, walking into the wind with a cape billowing behind you is one of the most fun things to do. Second Witch: By the pricking of my thumbs, Something wicked this way comes! Open, locks, Whoever knocks!Macbeth: How now, you secret, black, and midnight hags! What is 't you do?All: A deed without a name. The Three Witches are my favorite characters in Shakespeare. – ToM

Oh, yes, the Earth's magnetic field has changed direction numerous times in the course of its existence. Just look at the sea floor of the Atlantic ocean – there are numerous bands (corresponding on either side of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge) where the direction changes, because the magnetic field was flipped during the time span where one band was formed, but back to what we consider normal for the next few eons when the next band formed, then flipped again for the next one ... (Since the sea floor is formed from magma from the Mid-Atlantic Ridge that cools upon coming into contact with the water, the new rock takes on the magnetic direction of the Earth at the time of its cooling.) I wasn't aware that it had happened that recently, but it's possible that the civilization that made the pottery used clay containing magnetic rocks that were formed during one of the switch periods ... ... Yes, I like geology. Could you tell?

Takatu – A female? We could try Alex, she's small enough ... Muahaha. Eek, imagine that thing with a rusty blade. Ugm – Yup. Reading German fables in Latin class ... Well, we've done weirder. Ninja Handyman – There's a name I haven't heard given before ... Guillotine. C'est du français, monsieur! Anyway, Adam suggested that one himself. It's his fault.

But what if something crawls into the waffle iron when you aren't looking?

I have decided to dub Takadox "Lucifer." The name is Latin, meaning "light-bearer," but is associated with evilness and malignance – and Takadox uses light, but is evil. Even further aside, Lucifer was a Roman mythological figure bearing a torch, associated with the morning star and the planet Venus, as the herald of dawn and so the bringer of light – the literal meaning of Lucifer, from lux, light, and ferre, to bring. Just to add more confusion by associating a male figure with a planet now bearing the name of a female. "... clamavit uxor e cubiculo excurrens." Leigh Ann: " '... exclaimed the wife, running out of her cubicle.' " – ToM

Yes. We found out today that the copy room at my school has this enormous paper cutter ... christened by Henry "the Medieval torture device." And it really does look like one. It's big, black, and the paint is chipped and dented in places, not to mention the lethal-looking blade, which you push down on a handle to lower. During ninth period we discussed various things to cut with it, such as a Geometry book, fingers, necks, and Adam's midriff, although that we decided the latter two were too big to fit under the blade. Yes, we're morbid sometimes. But that thing so looks like it belongs in a Medieval dungeon or torture chamber or something ... In other news, we're reading Hansellus et Gretella in Latin, and I found out today that my Advanced Algebra class is now pretty much past SAT level. Our teacher said that if we took it right now we might have some problems with a few things we haven't gotten to yet, but everything else ... wow. Noverca excurrit et domum rediit ... in order to escape the Medieval torture device. – ToM

Yes, you do ... Anyway, I confess I rather skimmed over the Eragon portion myself, as I have yet to read Eldest and don't want it spoiled. Would I be safe if I read said part? I myself have never been ice-skating much ... I've never been able to balance, although I do enjoy watching it. Have fun, although it seems you will regardless.

Very close: "The horse killed by the frog was declared dead by the doctor." As I said, pay attention to the cases – equus is a nominative, and a rana is an ablative of personal agent. Necatus is also a perfect passive participle, not a verb, but the essence was correct.

Latin dictionaries are your frieeeeends ... A hint: look at the numbers, genders, and cases of the word. Everything with the same number, gender, and case (in this sentence) is related.

The age-old question of four entries ago now has an answer: Toa Hewkii. I still want Toa Nuparu about equally as I did him: both have aspects I want, and I need both for my revamp of Toa Jovan ... I want Nuparu for his claws, Kadin, and general black armor, but Hewkii's iron grey armor, aided and abetted by his chain, won me over. Expect a review and photo shoot of him soon ... during which I may rant about his proportion and identity problems, which I'm resisting the urge to go into now. Mainly because iron grey armor is too awesome for me to do so. I also saw Vezon and Fenrakk for the first time today in real life (in Toys "R" Us), and they are awesome. They're also huge. But that only makes them all the more intimidating, towering over the Inika. Interestingly and annoyingly, the aformentioned TRU had a full stock of Hahli, Matoro, Kongu, and Jaller, but not the slightest hint of Hewkii or Nuparu – not even a space for them on the shelves. Completely full with four Inika, but lacking the slightest hint of the only two I was looking for, and not even any of the titans – except that both Hewkii and Nuparu were fighting Vezon and Fenrakk in the display. Weird. And I also got a new jacket, dark blue fleece with a wide medium blue stripe down each arm. It's really warm, and it looks nice, too ... And adds yet another blue garment to my wardrobe, of which at least half must be some shade of blue now. Shame there's no sale on Inika going on right now, or I'd have gotten Nuparu at the same time ... – ToM

... I'm afraid not. The dead horse is right, though. And also, English isn't derived from Latin ... it's Germanic, not Romance. Anyone else? Knowledge of Latin is somewhat necessary ...

A rana necatus equus mortuus medico declaratus est. Most entertaining Latin example sentence to date. I burst out laughing as Dr. Jones wrote it on the board (the original had the horse killing the frog, but we decided that made too much sense). Translation on request, but I'd love for someone to try it first ... I really do need to make a language category. –ToM

"Ne me touchez pas! Je suis la Mort Rouge qui passe!" – Le Fantôme de l'Opéra, Gaston Leroux No, this has nothing to do with Edgar Allan Poe. It's the Phantom of the Opera, disguised as the Red Death at the Opéra's masked ball ... Strictly from the book, hence why he has a skull for a head rather than the theatrical half-mask. Embroidered on the back of his cloak is the above quote – "Do not touch me! I am the Red Death passing [among you]!" He probably ought to be entirely red, but the red/black pieces stuck in my mind as being perfect for the Red Death when I first built it. In other news, the PSAT was just as easy as I incredulously anticipated it to be. The reading comprehension was tricky as usual, and there were a couple words I didn't know in the vocab questions (shame on me!), but the math sections were really simple and I fairly breezed through the grammar at the end. It was, in short, the easiest standardized test I've ever taken ... and it doesn't even count for anything Sophomore year. "Et quelqu'un voulut le toucher... mais une main de squelette, sortie d'une manche de pourpre, saisit brutallement le poignet de l'imprudent ..." – ToM

Yeah. I'm taking the PSAT (Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test) tomorrow, although as a Sophomore it counts for absolutely nothing... But still – is it supposed to be this easy? I just went through the practice test and I can't believe this is what I'll be sitting for next year. If the real thing is anything like the practice (which I think is the PSAT from two years ago...), it'll be really simple. The math took me about a few seconds for a lot of the problems, and ... well, I suppose I'm not a good objective judge of the grammar section. Reading interpretation I always worry about, because I'm often unsure which answer they want, but ... I have no idea what the SATs are like, but the PSAT looks to be pretty easy. Also, I would like to thank Takatu for getting me obsessed with Nightwish's Wishmaster and to instruct everyone to go read <daydreamer>'s new story Autumn Leaves. Both are excellent. ^^ – ToM

Sunday mornings are so relaxing ... Nothing for me to do but let my mind wander on the uncharted paths of MOCing, ponder vague plots, and dream up scenes and scenarios from the pieces strewn around my room ... The object of today's wondering was Toa Jovan. I've always pictured him as dark blue against black, wearing a black Hau Metru, with no iron grey at all, actually. Today, however, I was staring at my small pile of iron parts, and I got the idea to rebuild his set form into something more streamlined and coherent, with a reasonable chest size and more proportional legs. I figured I would also use an enhancement I made to Hahli's harpoon a while ago for his weapon. No Zamor, either. But I'm wondering about giving him a belt like he has now, with the claws hanging from it for him to don in close combat. Unfortunarely, this requires both Toa Hewkii and Toa Nuparu, neither of whom I have. Which leads me to the inevitable and entertaining question: which Inika do I get next? Jaller, Hewkii, or Nuparu? Nuparu has nothing I want in specific (other than black armor), but I need him to build Jovan. I love the iron grey armor and chain in Hewkii, which I also need for Jovan. Jaller is probably at the bottom of the podium, but only because I don't need anything from him at the moment. Or I could get none of them and instead get Brutaka. (And yes, I wrote this throughout the day ... I was interrupted.) – ToM

I still remember when you were Deadly Kanohi Master ... It's good to know you're still around, although I can relate in that I've changed a lot since I first joined, too ...

I'm assuming you live in Buffalo or in its vicinity? Thankfully Rochester escaped unscathed, but I understand everything to the west was buried in feet of snow ... Hope things get back to normal for you soon ... You seem to be faring reasonably well, though. Maybe it has to do with being a lava surfer? You are correct, ToM. Buffalo's vicinity. Lucky Rochester. Now I'm jealous... Nah, we just had a ton of flashlights and blankets from when my dad went out and bought a lot on sale, so heat (when we wore the blankets) and light weren't a problem. Still, it was a relief to get the generator.

You certainly have an interesting family history ... as it were. Although that's cool, being related to an accused witch. And yes, highly ironic indeed.

As I'm listening in on a discussion about Halo, I notice that my blog has 117 comments ... How typical. Mikerahk, Tmd – I saw the Powerpack at Toys "R" Us once in 2001, but I didn't get it ... I really wanted it, but my dad discouraged me ... Now one of my chief objectives is to get one and thereby acquire (Tohunga) Hafu and a Kanohi Rua. I also have a knack for narrowly missing promotions – I think I was out-of-town during the Walgreens Vahi promotion. :annoyed2: Takatu – Indeed! Ave Caesar morituri te salutant! "Hail, Caesar, those about to die salute you!" I love Latin ... Ave! is a fun way to greet people. (Although Dominus Nox is technically "Night Lord," not "Lord of the Night.") ET – Yes, but Muaka and Kane-Ra were a big set ... Which I didn't get. So it qualifies as rare in my case, and it's also a really cool mask anyway. Ave Roodaka!

Pohuaki is awesome. So is everyone who voted for me – thanks again! The same can easily be said of a lot of the artists who entered AC12 in both categories, as there were a lot of great entries this contest ... This brings my count of rare Kanohi to find down to four: the orange Vahi, chrome Hau, infected Hau, and copper Komau (not counting misprints). I've never wanted the movie edition Kraahkan, and I'm obviously not even counting the solid gold Hau and platinum Avohkii ... But this is great! I now have four Poisoned Hau Nuva and one of my most coveted Kanohi, the transparent neon green Miru. I shall now go and contemplate the shrine I intend to make to the Miru until I find something more interesting to fawn over. If you were wondering about the title. – ToM

*is alarmed* Nooo, you're disturbing the mystique of black cats ...

To my knowledge, the significance comes from a Friday the thirteenth in 1307 (interestingly, in October, just like today) when thousands of members of the Knights Templar were arrested and later tortured into admitting heresy, among other things... ... And yes, I had to look up the date. But I had read about the origin before, which I rediscovered today because I couldn't remember what it was ... Fun.