Newgrounds.com — Everything, By Everyone.

Coop gets offered 2 roast dinners within a 24 hour period, before congratulating:
No-one... damn, we'd been going so well...

Listening to:
Alestorm - To The End Of Our Days

At 1/8/13 06:53 PM, Metal-Therapy wrote:

At 1/8/13 05:09 PM, Haggard wrote: But it's fucking MAIDEN, man!

I'm not trying to downplay the legend that is Iron Maiden, but the SOAD show was a bigger deal for me, personally. Also know that I got into SOAD a few years before I really started listening to Maiden and thus had been waiting significantly longer to see them. It was like a check off the bucket list for me, ya know? :P

I feel that I've got to wade in here - while I've been to see Maiden live and I loved them, there is a touch of nostalgia for singing along with Chop Suey, while driving back up the motorway.

I'd still take a chance to see Maiden again over any other band... except perhaps Michael Jackson or Queen, but since they are dead, that might be a factor in it.

At 1/9/13 07:41 AM, Bahamut wrote:

At 1/8/13 04:57 PM, Coop wrote:

At 1/8/13 11:37 AM, Bahamut wrote: I can't say what I'll be like tomorrow. Only one way to find out, though. Surely I can't have myself asleep for something really stupid like 14 hours straight but then again, I wouldn't put it past myself to do that.

I think I'm getting better - The cold seems to have lost it's bite, so I'll hopefully start recovering properly now :)

I've been lucky for the most part. If I do have to catch one soon, just let it be before the meet commences.

Can you not put it off until after the meet has finished?

Where I live, a lot of things are generally downhill when going to work. If it's heading back, it's going uphill. Can't say I love the unstable level of land here but at least this area isn't liable to flooding.

That's perfect - down hills to work, before taking a slog back on the bike, or walking it up the hills as a worse-case scenario.

Eh, I'd rather it be easy on the way back just so I don't have to push a lot just to get back home. When I was still in the hell known as school, it was cycling downhill but getting back uphill and some paths were so steep I had to walk my bike up.

I always liked the idea that you had to slog up the hill to get home, then you could make out that you'd had a far harder day at work and get sympathy for it.

At 1/8/13 11:27 AM, Saen wrote: When you little sexy things prefer to take a shower and how often?

Most mornings, I get up at 0640, read a chapter of my book and then hit the shower. If I'm running late, I grab a quick spot-wash, before shaving, but usually every morning before work.

Weekends, I'll shower either when I get up or if I'm planning on doing physical work during the day, I'll shower when I've done that.

During the summer, I run more and play cricket, so I dive in the shower when I return, or if there are facilities where I play, I grab one there. The shower in a can isn't as appealing as it was, when I was a teenager.

Coop watches Aston Villa lose 3-1 to Bradford City, before calming down enough to congratulate:
Knuckstrike: 7,000 Saves
DiMono: Top 200 B/Per
Martin: 61,000 B/P

Listening to:
Iron Maiden - 22 Accacia Avenue

Thank you to:
Odyssic
Metal-Therapy

At 1/8/13 11:37 AM, Bahamut wrote:

At 1/7/13 01:36 PM, Coop wrote:

At 1/6/13 10:02 AM, Bahamut wrote: At least 11AM is reasonable. I'm waking up at unreasonable times but then again, when you can't even fall asleep until 7 in the fucking morning, what do you expect?

Mine was a case of not getting to bed until later than planned (2am) and then not really managing to get much in the way of sleep. Hopefully, I can rectify that now.

I can't say what I'll be like tomorrow. Only one way to find out, though. Surely I can't have myself asleep for something really stupid like 14 hours straight but then again, I wouldn't put it past myself to do that.

I think I'm getting better - The cold seems to have lost it's bite, so I'll hopefully start recovering properly now :)

I could have told some interviewers that I could easily get to the work place via cycling but my problem is that by the time you get to work, you'll feel all hot and bothered already.

I tried to ease off the pedals as I got closer to work. That way the cool breeze still had that effect and I slowly lowered the body temperature, rather than stopping and becoming drenched in sweat.

Where I live, a lot of things are generally downhill when going to work. If it's heading back, it's going uphill. Can't say I love the unstable level of land here but at least this area isn't liable to flooding.

That's perfect - down hills to work, before taking a slog back on the bike, or walking it up the hills as a worse-case scenario.

Coop wonders if this is his cold finally leaving, while congratulating:
Knuckstrike: Sergeant 1st Class
Spretnaz: Sergeant 1st Class
Decky: 12,000 Saves
Suprememessage: 2nd NG Berfday
jjjkuk: 5th NG Berfday
gamejunkie: 56,000 B/P

At 1/6/13 10:02 AM, Bahamut wrote:

At 1/6/13 06:45 AM, Coop wrote:

At 1/5/13 09:56 AM, Bahamut wrote: Is waking up at 2 in the afternoon a new habit of mine or something? This isn't good of me but then again, what do I expect when I couldn't even fall asleep until 7 in the morning?

I had a similar issue, though it was only 11am and then I did spend about an hour reading, before surfacing properly.

At least 11AM is reasonable. I'm waking up at unreasonable times but then again, when you can't even fall asleep until 7 in the fucking morning, what do you expect?

Mine was a case of not getting to bed until later than planned (2am) and then not really managing to get much in the way of sleep. Hopefully, I can rectify that now.

Fair enough, that's still a lot of exercise in your life. As for me, I have considered cycling on some days but going to Liverpool isn't exactly easy to take a bike through to and it's not often that I'll be out and about where it's only within the Wirral.

It's purely cycling for pleasure with me at the moment - I can hardly cycle to work after all, now. I've not done it for a while and I really should dig out the wheels again, to hit the road.

I could have told some interviewers that I could easily get to the work place via cycling but my problem is that by the time you get to work, you'll feel all hot and bothered already.

I tried to ease off the pedals as I got closer to work. That way the cool breeze still had that effect and I slowly lowered the body temperature, rather than stopping and becoming drenched in sweat.

At 1/7/13 12:33 PM, Bahamut wrote: Well shit, my sleeping habits have hit a new low. I woke up at 4:45PM. This just won't do anymore.

Holy fuck, that's 12 minutes before I clocked out!

#89 most experienced

List to follow

Well, right behind the computer, I've got a stack of dozens of CDs, worth hundreds of pounds (to replace, at least). Above them, there is a collection of RPG books, which each one cost me about £20, so around £700-£1,000 there. Then there's the literature collection, the electronic equipment (TV, PS3, Stereo, iPod and my mobile phone) and of course the furniture that it all sits upon.

I've got a collection of ties, which cost me a pretty penny, plus my cufflinks which are becoming a habit. Finally, in answer to your question, the most expensive thing that I own in terms of monetary value would be me.

2007 Ford Focus
1.6 TDCi
5 door hatchback

It gets me about 50 miles to the gallon and I think it was the right car for me to get at the time (no more friends trying to squash into the back seat of a 3 door model, room for 4 cricket kit bags in the boot, plus a decent fuel mileage.)

Perhaps I'll be aiming to go back to Volkswagen-Audi, where I might be able to get 75-80 mpg out of some of their models...

At 1/6/13 02:47 PM, KillerSkull wrote: After a loooong time of waiting, the NHL lockout is finally over! How are you guys going to celebrate?! Who's going to go to a game? Who's still pissed? Do share!

While I'd love to go to a game, I doubt I'll be able to for a few years. Still here in the UK, still earning less than I feel I'm worth and still trying to get under the cosh of a mortgage.

To a certain extent, I'm still pissed - I'd have loved to see a whole season from the NHL, particularly as the Avalanche look exciting, with the youth movement going on around Duchene and Landeskog.

At 1/6/13 01:32 PM, Bahamut wrote: EXP update #59 is now available!

Thanks for the first update of 2013!

At 1/6/13 02:26 PM, Bahamut wrote:

At 12/9/12 05:09 PM, Coop wrote: Looks like I'm on the cusp of 90th place, as I'm within 7 deposits of iWalker and 18 of dopefish.

Well you're there now. Good job. :)

Yes, Dopefish has been Cooped. The bright upside of this is that I am focusing on passing all of 3 users this month - FIGMENTUM (1 deposit); iWalker (3 deposits) and (9 deposits). With the way that I appear to be closing in on quite a few users, I could have a bumper start to 2013 in terms of rank progression. I could be staring at the top 80 by my birthday, which would be a massive achievement, to pass 1 in 9 users who are currently ahead of me, by then.

Whole Lotta Helter Skelter

At 1/5/13 11:05 PM, Gagsy wrote:

At 1/5/13 10:30 PM, Bahamut wrote: I like that there's been a surge interests of others wanting to attend this meet. Sounds like this will be a better turnout than I had expected.

Yeah but what kind of jerk has a birthday in January?

We should totally get a Pico Day one in April for me... We could invite Tom!

At 1/5/13 07:16 AM, Gimmick wrote: So my question is: Do you use toilet paper, and if so, why?

Sometimes - I can take the SAS shit if necessary, squeezing it out so fast that it doesn't touch the sides. Alternatively, I won't use it, because I'm about to go in the shower, anyway.

THE NHL IS BACK!

Coop tries to plot furiously against his band of adventurers, while congratulating:
Chrausner: 11,111 B/P
Winrar1337: Colonel
Metal-Therapy: 27,000 Saves; 11,000 Experience
Kevin: 5th NG Berfday
Jolly: 60,000 Total Points

Listening to:
Queen - The Invisible Man
Led Zeppelin / Beatles - Whole Lotta Helter Skelter

At 1/5/13 09:56 AM, Bahamut wrote: Is waking up at 2 in the afternoon a new habit of mine or something? This isn't good of me but then again, what do I expect when I couldn't even fall asleep until 7 in the morning?

I had a similar issue, though it was only 11am and then I did spend about an hour reading, before surfacing properly.

At 1/4/13 02:18 PM, Coop wrote:

At 1/4/13 10:29 AM, Bahamut wrote: To tell you the truth, I thought you still went to the gym. I know you have cricket for your exercises but even then I thought it was still part of your routine. I guess I'm just thinking good of you.

While I don't go to the gym, I still run, cycle, lift weights and play cricket.

Fair enough, that's still a lot of exercise in your life. As for me, I have considered cycling on some days but going to Liverpool isn't exactly easy to take a bike through to and it's not often that I'll be out and about where it's only within the Wirral.

It's purely cycling for pleasure with me at the moment - I can hardly cycle to work after all, now. I've not done it for a while and I really should dig out the wheels again, to hit the road.

Training starts next Friday, so that should be fun (!)

Have fun with that.

Let me concentrate on getting rid of the cold first.

At 1/5/13 05:45 PM, Kevin wrote: 4 years on NG?

5 years?

Too tired to count someone count for me.

"I'm still a little woozy from a gazelle kick earlier today, but perhaps he's like a tree, where you count the number of rings to work out his age?"

"Wow, you'd need to be some sort of a genius to count all of those rings."

"He's five."

At 1/5/13 06:27 PM, Rustygames wrote: Quick question, is everyone attending over 18 and therefore able to drink or is this usually a very sober affair?

Friday night tends to involve more alcohol than the rest of the meet, though we will not be entirely dry on the Saturday. Far from it, in fact - you will need some Dutch courage to attempt the dodgems ;)

At 1/5/13 02:52 AM, LionzNTiggerz wrote: This was touched upon in the other thread about soda, but it didn't really get fully answered:

If you put soda on your genitals, does it feel good? Is it because of the bubbles?

The working man's champagne blowjob - she just does it with a mouthful of Sprite, instead.

And for the record, the feeling takes some getting used to, but it's worth it.

At 4/25/12 09:54 PM, Shade wrote: Father Sean

The most badass Catholic Priest ever.

Feck off.

Ladies and Gentlemen, I present Fr. Jack Hackett

At 1/4/13 09:42 PM, Sheizenhammer wrote: Now I have to take my car for a service + MOT on the Friday too, as well as not having any money to begin with.

Fucking ARGHOEIAJTL';KRWTMN;AWOUIREPGHIQAUEJF;OIKEJM!!!111!!111ONE!!

What, you mean you can't dump it at the Garage at opening time and then get alternative transport there and have your parents (for example) collect the car when it's done?

There's always a plan B

At 1/5/13 04:51 PM, TurkeyBased wrote: wont

I'm almost positive we could make you.

At 1/5/13 01:52 PM, Darthdenim wrote: Yes, that's a real movie.

Sounds like Zombies having a barbecue and being sexist, while winging that the English are better than them at Cricket and the Olympics.

Coop returns from the office and congratulates:
Austerity: 11,000 Saves
Chrausner: Praporshchik

Thank you to:
Metal-Therapy
Odyssic

At 1/3/13 09:12 PM, Metal-Therapy wrote:

At 1/3/13 03:21 PM, Coop wrote: It's all relative ;)

You're right. I just can't say gas is cheap here when I know people who drive a lot and are actually effected by it. (Luckily, I am able to keep my time behind the wheel to a minimum. $20 is enough to see me through a week's worth of driving.)

I'm looking at £60 per week in the most taxing of weeks. Of course, if I take my time while driving home, it will cost me less...

Pfft, if you've got an IQ of less than 80 it will be taxing.

It would be problematic for a few people I know, then.

Same here

I got mine for free - technically it was inherited from Granddad, though he is still with us - we just had to sell the house to pay for his accommodation at the residential home.

Can't go wrong with free stuff. :P

Exactly. It's serving me well, giving me somewhere to plug my PS3 into.

At 1/4/13 12:48 AM, reverend wrote:

At 1/2/13 04:23 PM, Coop wrote:

At 1/1/13 12:46 AM, reverend wrote:

At 12/31/12 09:37 AM, NewsReporter wrote: Why? 2012 was the greatest year Britain has seen in ages.

Exactly. The Olympics, Queen's Jubliee, Skyfall, umm England's Euro team, err Boris Johnson...

Prince Charles reading the weather?

I guess that's a plus as well. I didn't know about that until just now.
Of course doing the forecast for Scotland is pretty easy.

Yeah, but him putting the royal residences into the forecast was a nice humanising touch for him. I'm glad to see him start to look more relaxed about who he is.

At 1/4/13 10:29 AM, Bahamut wrote:

At 1/3/13 03:21 PM, Coop wrote:

At 1/2/13 08:07 PM, Bahamut wrote: Having eczema has never stopped me from swimming. Infact, I used to swim all the time but it has been ages since I last went for a swim on a regular basis but I have been negotiating with a friend of mine to see if a weekly session can be done at the local swimming pools just for some exercise.

I've not swum for a few years now... in fact, since I quit the gym, while I was still with Bex. It's got be three years since I quit there...

To tell you the truth, I thought you still went to the gym. I know you have cricket for your exercises but even then I thought it was still part of your routine. I guess I'm just thinking good of you.

While I don't go to the gym, I still run, cycle, lift weights and play cricket. Training starts next Friday, so that should be fun (!)

Coop starts writing some plot for his RPG, as soon as he has congratulated:
Faggard: 17,000 Experience
Martin: 52,000 Saves
Nijsse: Level 56

Listening to:
Huey Lewis & The News - The Power Of Love
Foo Fighters - See You
AC/DC - Highway to Hell

Thank you to:
Odyssic

At 1/2/13 06:33 PM, Metal-Therapy wrote:

At 1/2/13 04:23 PM, Coop wrote: You're in America, where gas is cheap and people never cared about having to drive hundreds of miles. Cars have never been designed to make even 60 mpg, where now there are certain cars on British roads that have been tested to 80+ mpg. I want to be able to do that.

Gas isn't cheap here,

It's all relative ;)

though I will admit it is way cheaper than the UK. I found this site and was appalled at what some countries are paying at the pump. Damn.

We're tied for 4th in the most expensive Diesel, though I did just fill up for £1.28 a litre, which helped. Discount coupons from the supermarket really do help me :)

I'm going again on the 18th. London meet IX, if I recall.

Have a good time!

I've got train and bus tickets to book, but that's doable. I can get there a fortnight tomorrow and all will be well :)

I bought some from IKEA and made the mistake of buying one wardrobe that was only one door, despite buying two doors for it...

I've never bought anything from IKEA, but I've heard some horror stories about assembly and such...

Pfft, if you've got an IQ of less than 80 it will be taxing.

I've seen these new OLED televisions that LG have just launched. Paper thin and energy efficient, the problem is the price of Ãf'Ã'£6,300

Damn, that's way too much for a TV. I remember when the flatscreens were new and super-expensive -I bought my new 37" for $300. lol I like staying one step behind the newest thing in electronics to keep price down, not to mention things change so fast anyway... :P

I got mine for free - technically it was inherited from Granddad, though he is still with us - we just had to sell the house to pay for his accommodation at the residential home.

At 1/2/13 08:07 PM, Bahamut wrote:

At 1/2/13 04:23 PM, Coop wrote:

At 12/31/12 09:28 AM, Bahamut wrote: Maybe not a killer but it sure as hell doesn't make life enjoyable when its at its worse forms.

It prevented me from swimming as a kid and as an ex-girlfriend of mine had Psoriasis, which is similar, though an auto-immune condition, or so I understand.

Having eczema has never stopped me from swimming. Infact, I used to swim all the time but it has been ages since I last went for a swim on a regular basis but I have been negotiating with a friend of mine to see if a weekly session can be done at the local swimming pools just for some exercise.

I've not swum for a few years now... in fact, since I quit the gym, while I was still with Bex. It's got be three years since I quit there...

83,000 Saves

Right, time for a list...

Coop recovers from his first day back in the office, congratulating:
LegolaSS: Level 49
SmashLuigiFan1: Lieutenant; 8.00 Total Voting Power
SCTE3: 8.00 Base Voting Power

Thank you to:
Metal-Therapy
Fro

At 12/31/12 05:44 AM, Haggard wrote:

At 12/29/12 07:51 AM, Coop wrote:

At 12/28/12 01:16 PM, Haggard wrote:

At 12/28/12 05:57 AM, Coop wrote: Because we genuinely don't know when he was born. Joseph was a clot and as a result, he lost the Birth Certificate. It could have been 3 weeks earlier, for all we know.

I thought it was some kind of mutual agreement that he was born on the 24th.

We don't know, so I think that this was where the churches came to agree on, thus it's when is celebrated, regardless of actual fact. Of course, he was probably black, for all we know :P

Yeah, it's highly unlikely that he looked as white as he's displayed on some pictures.

I think it was said about Michael Jackson being "similar" to Christ, but even as a hardcore fan of his, I'd not get drawn into that so easily.

At 12/31/12 09:28 AM, Bahamut wrote:

At 12/31/12 05:32 AM, Coop wrote:

At 12/30/12 10:34 AM, Bahamut wrote: I'd much rather have asthma then eczema. I highly doubt I'll ever get rid of it so I'm stuck with it for the rest of my life.... Why am I still alive?

As far as I know, eczema is not a killer... Just irritating as fuck.

Maybe not a killer but it sure as hell doesn't make life enjoyable when its at its worse forms.

It prevented me from swimming as a kid and as an ex-girlfriend of mine had Psoriasis, which is similar, though an auto-immune condition, or so I understand.

At 12/31/12 01:43 PM, Metal-Therapy wrote:

At 12/31/12 05:32 AM, Coop wrote: I might need to get a new car, as the one I have is slightly thirsty - 50 mpg, when I know of cars out there that can do 80. To put it in refuelling terms, one tank a week becomes almost a tank a fortnight.

My car (a 12 year-old piece of shit) gets around 20 to 25 and I thought that was okay. I'm sure you drive more than I do, with your commute to work. 50 mpg is still pretty damn good, though.

You're in America, where gas is cheap and people never cared about having to drive hundreds of miles. Cars have never been designed to make even 60 mpg, where now there are certain cars on British roads that have been tested to 80+ mpg. I want to be able to do that.

I started thinking differently when I attended a few meets. Now people practically expect me to show up :P

*Is Jealous*

I'm going again on the 18th. London meet IX, if I recall.

Adding furniture helps to tone down the colour somewhat. Hence the canvas on the otherwise bare wall on the right of shot...

Yeah, I've noticed that, too. The furniture I bought ended up being a lot bigger than I anticipated, so I'm seeing a lot less of the walls now. (yay for buying furniture online without seeing it in the showroom first.) LOL

I bought some from IKEA and made the mistake of buying one wardrobe that was only one door, despite buying two doors for it...

I'm satisfied with a 32" flatscreen for the bedroom. Given that I'm hoping to move out soon, I'll have to get a bigger one for the living room :P

Definitely. We got a 46" in our living room, though it's like 8 years old at this point. With this new one I got in my room I can play games on my bed at the other side of the room and still feel like I'm close to the TV! It's probably the most TV I could manage in here without looking totally ridiculous. :P

I've seen these new OLED televisions that LG have just launched. Paper thin and energy efficient, the problem is the price of £6,300

At 1/1/13 12:46 AM, reverend wrote:

At 12/31/12 09:37 AM, NewsReporter wrote: Why? 2012 was the greatest year Britain has seen in ages.

Exactly. The Olympics, Queen's Jubliee, Skyfall, umm England's Euro team, err Boris Johnson...

Prince Charles reading the weather?

At 1/1/13 07:29 PM, Fro wrote:

At 12/31/12 05:32 AM, Coop wrote: You'll get there - you have a decent showing of having some sort of long-term game plan.

I get to start the 12th officially. Next week I'm still working my old job, but get paid the new wage. That works for me just find. I get two weeks shadowing someone, then I'm set free by myself.

I prefer making the move straight from one to the other, rather than having a week's break in between the two. I took a week off when I left the supermarket to start for the house builder, mainly because I'd been treated like shit and I was just a lazy bastard. Between the housing and now, I had three days, which got me sorted before Xmas with the new place.

I have a nice one bedroom, one bath apartment, and a little car that if it holds up for a few years I may just make it.

I might need to get a new car, as the one I have is slightly thirsty - 50 mpg, when I know of cars out there that can do 80. To put it in refuelling terms, one tank a week becomes almost a tank a fortnight.

That's better than any car I've even heard of... Mine gets around 30 mpg and I only fill it up once every 2-3 weeks for $35.

I've got a 10 gallon tank, that takes over 60 pounds to fill, let's call it $100 for argument's sake. That's about a quarter of my weekly wage on fuel.

Oh and a VW Passat has been tested to 84 mpg or 1,626 miles from one tank.

That bookshelf is awesome by the way. I can't do anything to change the apartment like that because I'll lose my security deposit.

Yeah, but that's what my friends like about their landlady - they speak to her and she lets me do shit like that to her house - they like being long term tenants and she likes having long-term tenants. Keep everyone happy.

We passed up on a small house that would literally let us do anything as long as we asked, but it needed too much work to make really nice. It was livable, but we just wanted something move in ready with no work. Plus it was $100 cheaper a month and that money was all I was really worried about when I had such a poor job to start with.

Yeah, I'd like something like that, but it's what is about when I get into the market.

Looks like I can celebrate 2013 with an achievement:

Top 90 Experienced

Happy New Year, all.

At 12/31/12 08:27 AM, Farza wrote: What song do you want played at your funeral? I'm between Bohemian Rhapsody and Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites.

Forest Lawn, by John Denver. Hopefully those bastards at the funeral directors will reduce their fees, because of it!

At 12/31/12 10:54 AM, Gagsy wrote: Fucking dogs Otto. Why must we care so much about those silly little lovable animals?

When one of Bex' cockatiels became ill, we had to take it to the vet and they told us that there was nothing could be done - I was uspet and I don't really like animals, but Bex had stayed up all night, making sure that Snowy was comfortable.

I think that Bex was more wound up about the vet being "callous", though I viewed it as detached, considering that they deal with this all of the time and if a bird gets sick it's pretty much goodnight, Vienna.

At 12/31/12 10:05 AM, Gagsy wrote: Just wish this time round it didn't end with her leaving me forever.

I don't know what to say, Gagsy. Hope you feel better soon and at the end of the day, it's your decision, so I'll support it either way.

My 20th book of 2012. I felt that I had not read many here, but clearly I have worked to surpass most recent years worth of reading. I wonder how many I can manage for 2013...

Title : Side Jobs - Tales from the Dresden Files
Author : Jim Butcher
Genre : Crime / Fantasy / Horror
Publication Date : 2010
ISBN : 0-451-46365-X

With the events that took place at the end of Changes, we knew that things were never going to be the same again in the world of Harry Dresden, or as Wiki puts it, the "Dresdenverse". This book is a collection of short stories, allowing us to better emapthise with Jim Butcher, as his talent has grown. Comparing the first short tale, "A Restoration of Faith", to "Aftermath", which was written over 10 years later, you can see that he has developed his talents massively over that time.

Through these snapshots of the characters, you develop a more keen sense of what has happened to them, learning a few more key plot points along the way, particularly of people like Miss Gard, the six-foot blonde woman, who works as a supernatural security consultant for the biggest crime lord in Chicago.

Reading two of the tales through the eyes of two characters closest to Dresden - Thomas Raith, vampire of the White Court and Karrin Murphy, Chicago PD's finest - you can get a better feel for them, particularly how they see things, when Dresden performs his magic.

Sure, I'd like to see the tale of how Michael Carpenter rescued Charity from the dragon, or something to do with Molly and her increasing infatuation with our dashing hero (If I'm like him, I'd better start acting it, right?), but clearly Butcher felt that these were stories for another time, or never considered writing them in the first place.

If I had one regret about this, I would have preferred to read them in order with the novels, what with how some of these file notes would have helped me with puzzling out what fit where and whom was capable of what. In Gard's case, I had mostly worked it out, by the time that she uses these talents in Small Favour, but a little heads up would have been nice.

That said, Aftermath, the final tale, which takes place an hour or two after the events of Changes answered none of the questions that I had acquired. For the duration of Side Jobs, I did find myself thinking "just x more stories to go, then I can find out how it all works out well!" It's at this point that I considered the title of the next novel - Ghost Story and a lot of my own stupidity washed away with that. Patience, I will get the answers soon enough.

Still, these are fast-paced mini tales of the Dresden Files, which fit together in a nice book that adds a little closure here and there, tying off some loose ends and explaining other plot points, as and when required. Butcher is one of the most gifted storytellers that I have ever come across and to turn Chicago into his own playground is immensely intriguing, what with everything that he has managed to fit in there.

I will get around to reading Ghost Story and Cold Days soon, perhaps when I do, there will be a decent stockpile of Dresden to read and keep me chugging away through the nights, as I enjoy a good chapter before bed.

Next Up: Emperor - The Gates of Rome, by Conn Iggulden

Coop bids farewell to 2012 and prepares to usher in another 365 days. Congratulations to:
DiMono: 30,000 B/P; Supreme Commander; 11.11 Total Voting Power
Pokemonpoeguygcn: 79,000 B/P
Jolly: 6,000 Posts
LiquidFire: 25,000 B/P

Listening to:
Alestorm - Back Through Time
Iron Maiden - Sanctuary (Live)
Rush - Ghost Rider

Thank you to:
Odyssic

At 12/30/12 09:45 AM, Fro wrote:

At 12/30/12 06:24 AM, Coop wrote: Congratulations - always nice to hear when someone makes it. I never liked the idea of paying rent, so someday I hope to get a place of my own, that belongs to me personally, rather than somewhere that I need to remove the shelves from when I get kicked out of and even though it was not my choice to move, I still have to make good.

I haven't quite made it yet, but with yearly raises and chance for performance bonuses I'm in a position where if I don't move up to management in the next few years I'm not stuck between a rock and a hard place. I can't quite afford a house yet so I have to pay rent. I guess if I could fine a house where I could make small payments for the next 30 years I could swing it, but then I have all these taxes and interest to worry about. I'm not ready for that.

You'll get there - you have a decent showing of having some sort of long-term game plan.

I have a nice one bedroom, one bath apartment, and a little car that if it holds up for a few years I may just make it.

I might need to get a new car, as the one I have is slightly thirsty - 50 mpg, when I know of cars out there that can do 80. To put it in refuelling terms, one tank a week becomes almost a tank a fortnight.

That bookshelf is awesome by the way. I can't do anything to change the apartment like that because I'll lose my security deposit.

Yeah, but that's what my friends like about their landlady - they speak to her and she lets me do shit like that to her house - they like being long term tenants and she likes having long-term tenants. Keep everyone happy.

At 12/30/12 10:34 AM, Bahamut wrote:

At 12/29/12 07:51 AM, Coop wrote:

At 12/28/12 09:02 AM, Bahamut wrote: Same, I try to make my trips to see them as little as possible. However, after a while it becomes mandatory to see one just to get prescription to give treatment to my eczema... Oh yeah, none of the cream to settle it down never works. Fucking con artists.

Mine went, now I've developed Asthma. Go figure.

I'd much rather have asthma then eczema. I highly doubt I'll ever get rid of it so I'm stuck with it for the rest of my life.... Why am I still alive?

As far as I know, eczema is not a killer... Just irritating as fuck.

At 12/30/12 11:30 AM, Metal-Therapy wrote:

At 12/30/12 06:24 AM, Coop wrote: It went well yesterday as well, with what looks like some blammable crap there first thing, too :)

3 more so far today! Funny how they seem to come and go in cycles...

I'm up to a total of 18 Blams in 4 days. Woo! 1,247 Blams in a year...

My movements in the physical world are tied inextricably to those within the Portal.

I suppose movement is necessary when interacting with a computer. :P I tend to separate the digital world from the physical when thinking about people chat with online, though. I would probably think differently if I actually knew the people here irl.

I started thinking differently when I attended a few meets. Now people practically expect me to show up :P

And now, the handiwork that I've been doing these past few days. The desk and laptop have been there for a while, but having added the shelves and the massive amounts of books and CDs there, I can firmly say that this is my new "Creative Corner"

Looks nice, man. I'm digging the color! I've been doing some remodeling, myself. I just got a new carpet installed and a new bedroom set delivered. Not to mention a 37" flatscreen, which looks absolutely badass in my bedroom. (It is a huge upgrade from the 26" I had before.) :D

Adding furniture helps to tone down the colour somewhat. Hence the canvas on the otherwise bare wall on the right of shot...

I'm satisfied with a 32" flatscreen for the bedroom. Given that I'm hoping to move out soon, I'll have to get a bigger one for the living room :P

At 12/31/12 01:09 AM, Metal-Therapy wrote: Just logged my stats to find that I've currently got more blams than saves since my last log. It was an amazing sight.

Yeah, that's a fantastic achievement if you can manage it.

At 12/30/12 10:21 PM, LemonCrush wrote:

At 12/30/12 05:45 PM, Urban-Champion wrote: and i don't think anyone is trying to argue the existence of responsible gun owners, the question is, how to we compensate for the irresponsible gun owners?

They shouldn't have guns.

Then in that case, I would like to ask you how you propose to legislate for and enforce this? I'm arguing for the same thing, but it's your country, so you've got a better knowledge of how things work than I have.