Heres the first release of info about the event im helping and fliming at in April, hopefully the movie turns out well, also if anyone that wants to go you should head along its going to be sweet!

Dates: April 2nd, 3rd, 4th 2010
Venue:
Playtech, 1 Omega St
Albany, 0632
Auckland
Time:
• 9am – 9pm Friday & Saturday
• 9am – 6pm Sunday
Events:
• Halo 3
• Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
• Street Fighter 4
• Tekken 6
• Halo 1 + Halo 2 – Casual Tournie
Transport:
For all those outside of Auckland I will arrange shuttles from the airport and central city for those who need it. Add me on msn if you are interested in a shuttle and I’ll try and arrange it so that the cost is at a minimum.

WHAT YOU NEED
The event is BYOC so please bring everything listed below:
Xbox 360 Console + Components
Games you wish to play
Screen – no bigger than 24″
Headphones – no speakers allowed
Ethernet Cable – 5m minimum length
Powerboard

FIGHTING COMPS
For all those solely competing in the SF4 and T6 events all you will need is your own pad or arcade stick. The tournament will be held on an Xbox 360 so make sure to bring a compatible pad/stick.

PRICING & PAYMENTS
Entry to the event for the weekend is $50. This will get you in and signed up for one event of choice. For all those wanting to enter multiple events an additional $10 will be charged. Multiple tournament entry is allowed however players will be required to list their primary events which will take priority over other events if a time clash occurs.
Prepayments are essential to guarantee your seat at the event. Numbers are limited so get in quick!
Prepayments can be made through bank deposit or through PayPal
Send an email to Midnite ( cloudlan.nz@gmail.com ) for payment instructions.

Go into your Itunes library and click on “My Top Rated”. What are yours? Let’s examine mine.

Any of these songs familiar to you? Are any of them in YOUR top rated?

Do you have an odd taste in music, or is it pretty main stream? Mine appears to be pretty main stream, I mean, we have some Coldplay up there, some selections from The Fray, and some Bruce Springsteen. Compared to the rest of your friends and family, how does your music compare? Is it weird, or is it a mutation of your best friend’s playlist?

Let’s see what your “top Rated” songs are, feel free to post a screen shot in the comments section of your playlist, or just list your Top Played by just typing out the names.

That is all for now

Have a Peachy day!

There’s nothing I can say about this that hasn’t been said before. I am also a confessed Whedonite, and I would marry him if not for the fact that he works too much and would never be home in time for dinner and I totally wasted this roast that took all day to cook!

Ahem. 50’s housewife flashback aside, this is an excellent, stand-alone comic. It’s like the Buffy movie that never was. While the setting with its tired trope of flying cars and post-apocalyptic ghettos underneath floating cities needs a little forgiving, the rest of the comic is pure Whedon magic. His trademark dry wit finds a perfect match with Melaka Fray, who is more jaded than the “sensible yet stylish shoes” Buffy but less isolated than the “7th season General” Buffy.

This comic also answers the question of what makes a Slayer. Is she a Slayer because she is Chosen? Or has a Watcher? Or has prophetic dreams or enhanced physical abilities? One commonality between past and present Slayers is a strong sense of justice, and the power to wield it. Much as Whedon’s Buffy-Slayer acted as a rallying cry for all those blonde bimbos in horror movies that are powerless against the monster, or who always must open the wrong door or trip on something, Fray-Slayer is a symbol of believing in something larger than yourself, your life of crime, and even this particular plane of existence.

And much as I hate to use the word “empowerment”, its presence pervades the comic and the Buffy-verse. Though she might not have elected to be put in this position, Mel chooses to take on the responsibility of protecting those around her, despite not having any guidance.  Whedon is also tired of being asked why he writes strong female characters, his answer being: “Because you keep asking me this question (i.e. cuz for some reason you think what I do is special, which is wrong in its own right)”

The art of this novel is also amazing. The lines are almost strong enough to carry the action by themselves, but the intense colors only add to the life of the story. The reds in particular are intense, cherry tomato reds, that make the blood and other visceral things pop out intensely.

I guess my critique is, though there is a twist ending, much of the themes in the story has already been done in the Buffy-verse before. There are qualities of the epic story that are fulfilled to the letter, and you can imagine what would happen if the story were to continue: Mel would gain allies, leveling up before facing the next boss. She will meet a sage who will guide her, have a moment when she questions herself but returns stronger, etc. Urkonn subverts some of these old standbys, but a continuation of the story would seem to have no choice but to rehash some old Buffy themes. Then again, I’m not Joss Whedon, and he could probably pull a big technicolor rabbit out of that hat.

So. Final answer? Get your hands on it. You’ll lurve it.

The Fray found 2005 to be their highlight year with How To Save A Life earning double platinum status, but with any newcomer climbing the charts, we have to ask if lightning can strike twice. The Fray’s self-titled sophomore effort starts off with some melodic, catchy tracks (“Syndicate,” “Absolute”) that fill the room with a warm atmosphere an audiophile would write poems about. Issac Slade on piano provides a sentimental touch to the ballads and first two singles, “You Found Me” and “Never Say Never.” The latter has an infectious chorus (“Don’t let me go/We’re falling apart and coming together again and again”) one can imagine a crowd chanting over and over. As of late 2009, the album has earned Gold status, but the band has put out a Deluxe Edition with a 2nd disc of studio and live material including an unexpected Kanye West cover of “Heartless” that is given an acoustic facelift, showcasing the tag-team of Joe King and David Welsh on guitar.

Photo credit: AOL Music

Christmas might be over, but that doesn’t mean you still can’t get gifts. As a special Christmas gift to their fans, The Fray is  giving away 4 free MP3s. These Christmas Mp3s are acoustic songs that have never been released.
The band is also offering free membership (for 1-year only) to their official fan club.

Visit the Fray Fan Club for more information!

The big vibe within sounds her needs,
that vibration a soft nudge,
and she communicates with me this silent way–
my task an express utilization.

I wish to never hesitate when she calls,
to leap into the fray as her valiant warrior,
for whatever required i am love’s instrument–
my oath is done.

May i be the one to disappear,
hollow and empty of self-pity,
hollow and empty of my self-consideration,
and may i wholly consider the one–
the one i wait upon.

Uncertainty is killing me
And I’m certainly not asleep
Maybe I’ve gone far too deep
Maybe I’m just far too weak
And that’s the last place I want to be the last place

And there is so much we dont know
So we love and we hope that it holds

Thousands were lost and maybe more
The question remains, “What is this for?”
Maybe it came unexpected
Maybe I’m left unprotected
And that’s the last place I want to be the last place

And there is so much we dont know
So we love and we hope that it holds
And either we say or we show
So I’m going to fight for my own

I’m holding on until the last
I’m holding on until there’s nothing left
I’m holding on until the last
I’m holding on until there’s nothing left

By: Fray

There’s some things we don’t talk about
Rather do without
And just hold the smile
Falling in and out of love
Ashamed and proud of
Together all the while

You can never say never
Why we dont know when
Time and time again
Younger now than we were before

Don’t let me go
Don’t let me go
Don’t let me go
[x2]

Picture you’re the queen of everything
As far as the eye can see
Under your command
I will be your guardian
When all is crumbling
Steady your hand

You can never say never
Why we dont know when
Time, time and time again
Younger now then we were before

Don’t let me go
Don’t let me go
Don’t let me go
[x2]

We’re pulling apart and coming together again and again
We’re growing apart but we pull it together, pull it together, together again

Don’t let me go
Don’t let me go
Don’t let me go
[x4]

Good morning to everybody. It is always said that the hair crowns the beauty. I believe in that. Our is the one seen first by many. Our hair gives us confidence if it is very healthy and stress free.

It was then believed that in order to get healthy, shiny hair it must be brushed a hundred times every night before going to bed. Hair experts said that too much brushing and combing can actually be rough on hair.

Hair may seem resistant to all the brushing, heat styling and coloring, but every strand is fragile. The cuticle, its outer layer, is made of scales that overlap each other. Once the scales are disturbed, hair damage starts. And over time it will continue to chip and fray until the surface becomes rough, dry and dull. There are warning signs of hair damage which you will notice and it includes lack of elasticity, lighter-colored ends, split-ends and hair breakage.

You can give a style on your hair anytime you want. Keeping your hair healthy doesn’t mean you completely stop styling it. You can take some measures to save it from further damage and give it some much-needed TLC.

It is important that you use a wide-tooth comb. Our hair is weak when it’s wet, so combing our hair with a brush must not be done. You may try to use a plastic or rubber wide-tooth comb, as this is least likely to catch and break wet hair. When hair is almost dry, a natural or nylon bristled brush will style hair with minimal damage.

After shampooing you hair, don’t forget to use the conditioner. Regular use of a moisturizing conditioner will keep your hair from drying out and make detangling a breeze. Some hair stylish recommend the use of conditioner every day and shampoo only every other day to give hair a smooth coat.” –  Kelly Misa

Don't make me pull this plane over...

Well I guess the old phrase “Let’s take this outside” can’t really apply to this story where pilots and crew brawled mid-flight in Mumbai. The scuffle began when one of the crew members accused one of the pilots of sexual harassment and instead of thinking “we’re in flight with 106 passengers onboard” they thought it would be good idea to throw an all out free-for-all in the cabin. A representative of the airline was quoted as saying:

“At no stage was safety compromised. It was a clear case of indiscipline”

I mean really, do you actually think an airline would ever tell the truth like, “The plane was in jeopardy the whole time the pilots were PUNCHING the crew in the FACE, and we are really surprised the plane did not go down..” How about NO!!!

SHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAVVVVVVVVVVVVVEEEEEEEE!!!

-GRIZZ
Read the full article at: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33175707/ns/travel-news/?GT1=43001

First of all I want to say thank you for all the nice comments I have received on the Serenity Ship. Browncoats are just awesome, thank you guys!

And on a slightly related topic, I am re-watching Buffy the Vampire Slayer. I started watching in the middle of September and am now on the 4th season. I have been buying the 8th season Buffy comics but have not been reading them (I know, I am ashamed). So I decided to re-watch the series, and when I’m done I’m going to catch up with the comics. I also just finished reading the Fray comics that a friend let me borrow. It was really good, with a great mix of witty dialogue, action and tragedy (classic Joss). I am excited to get to the part of the 8th season that features Melaka.

Ok, now on to knitting! I have been in a little bit of a knitting rut, and I know exactly what it is…I am trying not to buy any more yarn. I have a decent sized stash (although it’s nothing compared to some I have seen on Ravelry!!!), but I am trying to use up some of my yarn, but I get all excited about new projects and then find out that I don’t have the right yarn. So I’ve decided that the best thing to do right now is concentrate on Christmas knitting! I have this little problem where I like to knit projects, but tend to keep most of what I create. Now that I have decided to knit gifts, I feel like my options have really opened up. I am starting with making another Wisp, from knitty.com. I like this project, it is a beautiful, easy, versatile pattern. I am using Dream in Color Starry in colorway Night Watch (which is a very pretty blue). I am about half-way through the pattern so I will post more photos when I’m finished!