From His Red Right Hand...

A quick note to detail the cool presents I got for my birthday/Christmas this year.

Birthday

• Fairyland Brownies from CCP (quite tasty!)
• An Optimus Prime bobblehead from mithras 
• A $75 Best Buy gift card from garchangel and greebotrill 
• A DVD of the new Star Trek movie from my mom
• The Welcome to the Jungle Dresden Files graphic novel, also from my mom
• And $50 in cash from my grandmom-in-law

Christmas

• Flip MinoHD from CCP
• Gateway LY3103u Netbook from garchangel and greebotrill 
• And another $100 in cash from my grandmom-in-law (which went toward a copy of Windows 7 for the netbook)

Note: As people comment here and in other places, I plan to update this with footnotes providing citations for various points (for and against). Because I love playing with Sherlockian research, even if I'm not that awesome at it.

To preface this, I have been a Sherlock Holmes fan for twenty-five years, since my father gave me a water-stained and dog-eared copy of the "The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes," containing the first twelve stories of the canon. I have read everything by Doyle, probably read an additional two dozen pastiches, listened to close to a hundred audiobook and radio versions, and watched a variety of television and movie renditions of the master detective. While I by no means consider myself a Sherlockian scholar, Holmes is certainly my first and most persistent fandom.

It has been with equal parts excitement and trepidation that I've been awaiting the Guy Ritchie vision of Sherlock Holmes. I planned to see it at a midnight showing on my birthday (because that would have just been awesome), but it turns out that the nearest theater to where we were in Tennessee was well over an hour away. So I waited until Sunday, when we got back. I had a terrible cold, and didn't want to go out -- until David asked if I wanted to go see the Sherlock Holmes movie.

Because that's different, you see.

Interestingly (and to a great extent, flatteringly), a number of my friends have been waiting on my opinion of the film before going to see it themselves. They know of my obsession fanaticism interest in all versions of Holmes, and since I gave my brief review on Twitter, a number of people have contacted me asking for a more detailed review.

If, however, you just want the short version, here it is: I thought it was a very fun and enjoyable update to Sherlock Holmes that keeps to the core of the canon, although casual audiences might not realize that.

( More detailed thoughts (minor spoilers) )

( You are about to view content that may only be appropriate for adults. )

A photo taken when Jessie, Chris and I were last together.

Now, it's not true. These days, I do have an occasional drink. On my birthday, on Paddy's Day. But that night, I was not drinking. And so, Chris and Jessie started the battle cry...


Ah, what a weekend.

( You are about to view content that may only be appropriate for adults. )

I am in the market for an engagement ring (for myself). As much as I love pretty jewelry, I do not want to spend more than $1000 on a ring. Honestly, I'd prefer not to spend anymore than $500.

I'm not willing to go to any "big box" jewelry stores and my search for online, fair trade-esque jewelry is not going so well. I've had a lot of suggestions from friends that I should try a local jeweler and I rather like that idea. Except I have next to no knowledge about fine jewelry -- much less, jewelers.

Any suggestions for places to "shop around" at in the area? :)

Not a magic star. Not a virgin birth. Not a visit from three wise men. No, sir. Something else. Nothing magical. Just science. In fact...




London, Dec 25 (PTI) In yet another medical achievement, British scientists have restored eyesight of a partially blind person using pioneering stem cell treatment.

God bless us, every one.

Happy Christmas, everyone, and may it find you and yours well. 

Paul Cornell, who needs no introduction, has also been writing fan fiction this week. Read about Christmas at the end of time in The Last Doctor.

From loremaster2085 

(Made me tear up. Thank you.)


 

"The symbolic world is splitting between vampire and dog."I understand what this man is saying but have no idea why he's saying it.

My buddy Josh Roby ( joshroby ) has an intriguingly different look at Avatar. Worth your attention.

Do as I do, not as I say.

The whole story...

• 14:24 @eddyfate As in "spend 1d6 experience?" #
• 14:30 @eddyfate In T&S, I'm thinking of combining damage/change with experience. #

I am here to confirm that the Arkham Asylum game does indeed magically turn you into Batman. Fucking awesome. 

I can't get the video to play in LJ, so you'll have to click on the link here.

An amazing speech. Congrats, sir. You've just earned the title "statesman."

Also, to be clear on my own stance, I'm against the current bill. I don't like it. As a Senator or Congressman, I'd vote against it. I've always felt laws should be simple and clear. From what I've read and heard, this one isn't. More lawmakers should take game design seminars.

If you use the Bible to defend anti-gay stances, you'd better get rid of your Christmas tree. Just as the LORD don't like them gays, he also don't like them Christmas trees.

(Jeremiah, Chapter 10, Verses 1-5)

1 Hear ye the word which the LORD speaketh unto you, O house of Israel:

2 Thus saith the LORD, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them.

3 For the customs of the people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe.

4 They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not.

5 They are upright as the palm tree, but speak not: they must needs be borne, because they cannot go. Be not afraid of them; for they cannot do evil, neither also is it in them to do good.


You can't pick and choose, people. If its the word of your god, its the word of your god. You can equivicate all you want. But there it is, clear as crystal.

Get rid of your Christmas tree. It cannot do evil, neither also can it do good.

• 11:57 New rule: too much canon makes your fanfic bad. #
• 12:02 @davidahilljr Previous Great Environmental Messages™ have been brought to me by Usenet trolls. I'll take what I can get. #
• 13:30 I'm so sorry. #threewordsforyou #

For all those who escaped the zombie apocalypse on the stage of the Midnight Riders' last show, the website on the poster is real. Fuck yeah. 





And here's their youtube channel.