Phwoar! Bit of a long trek around, but I’m back. A number of things have prevented me from making any posts, and I have not bought any new figurines for reasons that are soon to be revealed. Consider this a mini-update of some of the things that have been keeping me occupied and a hint of things to come.
Pretentiousness in Coffee Shops
I finally feel like I have become one of the techno-elite, that I have earned just a little Bohemian street cred. What wonderful event could have transpired that granted such a boon? While I would like to say it is due to my dazzling wit and unconventional lifestyle, the horrible truth is that I bought rather than earned this status like a dirty materialistic capitalist.
The Asus EEE Pc is a little wonder of mobile computing, and in terms of both design and performance Asus managed to get it spot on. The notebook is tiny – about the size of a hardcover book. It’s absolutely tiny, and I’ve taken a couple of pictures so you can get an idea. Below is a comparison of one of my figurines to a paperclip:
And here, the same figurine on the keyboard of the EEE Pc – or, as I have begun to call it, Little Monk.
It is certainly a head-turner, and people have expressed a lot of interest and open curiosity about it. Most of the men think it’s ‘cool’, most of the girls commenting that it’s ‘cute’, thereby leaving my manliness status in limbo. The one girl at my office said that she just wanted to ‘hug the little thing’. Unfortunately, offers of monetary reward for photos of said snuggling were lightly rejected.
It uses Linux as its core operating system, and I have to say that as a complete stranger to this form of computing it has been incredibly hassle-free. It automatically detects network settings, plays most video formats and has accepted all of my peripheral devices without hassle. There is a fantastic community around the device (such as that found at www.eeeuser.com), and I have no trouble learning how to go about installing the additional programs I require.
It’s not all a bed of roses, however. I originally purchased it for my work as the cheapo notebook option in the hopes that the EEE Pc is less intimidating and I would be able to take notes during the course of my interviews. The keyboard is a major stumbling block, since it is incredibly restricted in terms of the size of the keys and the layout.
It is something you have to get used to if, like me, you type as if you are conducting an orchestra – my word speed has dropped from around 70-80 words per minute to a measly 20.
Further use will reveal other shortcomings, I am sure, but for now I’m happy reveling in my newly acquired chic. All I need now is a beret, and I’m set.
Cloverfield AKA Call of Cthulhu : The Reckoning
So, this Friday I went to watch a film I have been eagerly waiting since the first few blurry photos found there way onto the Internet. Cloverfield intrigued me right from the word go, and I must admit that the Lovecraftian overtones filled me with quiet glee.
Having watched it, I can’t say that it was a bad movie. It would have actually have had to be a movie in order to qualify as being bad. Similar to the Blair Witch Project, it is not a traditional horror flick, and to go expecting as much will leave you disappointed.
Rather, it is for the watcher who always prays for a little realism and a prompt death for clueless, self-serving heroes that are utterly oblivious to the situation yet still manage to have a higher survival ratio than more pragmatic but less charismatic cowards.
It does an incredible job (at least, to me) of conveying what would really happen if an event like Cloverfield took place. Like H.P Lovecraft’s constant reminder that man is a prisoner to forces beyond his control, Cloverfield has no Bruce Willis Armageddon stunts or sudden reckless acts of bravado that pay off against all odds. The best you can do is pray to Cthulhu in the hope that, through your devotion, you are eaten last.
The creature concept and CG perform admirably when they’re called upon, and while I was initially left a little disheartened when the film ended, you need to take some time to absorb the sheer genius of it.
Shakugan no Shana, finally. Kinda.
I’ve been reading mainly my books from Christmas, so I haven’t delved into my light novels recently, my novels being somewhat of a heftier nature (Atlas Shrugged, anyone?). But, on a whim, I purchased the first Shakugan no Shana novel.
Now, I’ve haven’t watched it, so the incredible fervour and rabidness of fans concerning all things with a melonbread whiff confound me. All of the light novels I’ve read up until now have had their foundations set partly by an anime or manga that was seen before. Shakugan no Shana is the first I will be reading without any preconceptions, so it will be interesting to see how it stands up. Look forward to the review.
Additional Miscellanea Of The Dreary Kind
Considering some of the fantastic anime I’ve been watching recently (Tekkon Kinkreet, 5cm Per Second, Baccano!, etc), it is amazing to compare the difference some fifteen years on. I recently watched Green Legend Ran, a OVA series that, while not the best out there, is still a surprisingly enjoyable romp.
I’m thinking of looking at titles from the Mists of Time (i.e. the eighties and early nineties) to not only call attention to these classics but to compare them to similar modern titles see how techniques and style have evolved anime into the moe beast it is today.
I will also cover some of the most awful titles I can find, in true Mystery Science Theatre style. Don’t hold your breath.
And, something completely random:
Right, I think I’m done.
I didn’t know anything about Cloverfield except for the annoying movie trailers. Now that you’ve gone and said it’s got some Lovecraft overtones…well I still don’t have much interest in it, but it’s risen to above zero interest.
And the shot with the Strawberry Marshmallow figures on the notebook is cute.
And yes, I’m one of those people who opens up their notebook in a coffee shop, but I actually do real work while I’m there. I’m one of these people that needs low level distraction to focus.
Heh, I am glad I have given some worth to your estimation of Cloverfield. Just don’t go sending me the bill for your DVD rental if you don’t like it.
Yeah, the marshmallow crew worked pretty well; they all seemed to be in the perfect pose to be watching some movie. I really like the small tradeable figurines, and their quality has really soared in recent years.
Not the best shot, really, because the lighting kept on getting messed up with the screen glare, but what can you do?