Someday's Dreamer/Harry Potter, T_M bitching, Whistle!, DIE ANTS DIE

[thistlechaser]

In the subject line's order:

I wish there was something other than crap on TV. After reading subtitles for a whole day, I don't have the concentration to keep up with them all night. (Hate having to pause it so I can read.)

Watched 10 or so Whistle! eps (up to 20 now). Watched a handful more of Someday's Dreamer. Watched Bend It like Beckham (loved it). Watched a few other assorted eps of things.

Someday's Dreamer makes me think of the Harry Potter world a lot. As in HP, there are just a handful of people out of the whole population who can do magic, but unlike HP, the world at large knows about them and regulates the hell out of them. (A mage in the SD world cannot use their magic at all unless there's an "official request" and paperwork in triplicate. An official request means someone went to the government and filled out a request form, then the request gets investigated, then the form approved or not.) In one ep a mage spilled a little ice cream on her dress, and had to excuse herself from the other mages to go to the bathroom to clean it up. This same mage has enough magical powers to lift dozens of cars into the air at once; I was almost head-desking over her using soap and water to clean it up.

In exchange for all the run-around and restrictions on using their magic, the mages are recognized as humans and given human rights and such. It's an interesting and odd situation.

--

theatrical_muse disappoints me a lot. The people "running" it seem afraid of really running it. (When I asked if we had to write in first or third person, they said "the rule is you have to write in first person, but it's not like we can really enforce that!". BUH?) They really should *require* header information in the drabbles. What is the argument against them? A few extra words added to each post? When there are so many themes included in this spamfest?

My bigger wall with T_M is how the heck to write for the challenges. (And this isn't just because I'm writing for a stupid animal.) This week's challenge: "New Year's Resolutions". So many of the characters should have no idea what those are. Alien species, humans from the future, anime characters, etc. I wish the challenges would be easier for all characters to write for. (Yes, I know the Star Trek dog and HP cat handled these challenges just fine, but they're also writing them with human-level intelligence and communication ability. I'd rather write Ed true to character...)

Writing-wise, I'm just in a grumpy mood. Maybe I'll draw something instead...

--

I really, really like Whistle!. I don't know what the people who gave it a bad review were watching, but it couldn't have been the right series. I love Fuwa. I love his expressions, and his confusion with humanity in general. I should get a screenshot of him to add to the collection (I put Whistle! screenshots up on the anime screenshot page without posting them here first). I can't believe I almost cried over an opposing team losing to them. (They were third-years, so this was their last chance to play soccer! And they weren't natural superstars, but they tried so hard, didn't cheat, and had a strategy which fit their skills!) It's so nice that the characters have to try *so hard* -- none of them are natural-born superstars. I'll be sad when the series is finished (I'll likely wrap it up this weekend).

Between finishing Whistle! and probably Someday's Dreamer as well this weekend, I'll have nothing left to watch. Bah.

Oh, and I tracked down and downloaded Wild Striker, another soccer anime series which the reviewers who didn't like Whistle! said was better. Though I've only watched one ep of it so far, I'd say it's *no where near* better. It's hardly even up to 'good' (though it's hard to tell based on only one ep).

--

I like animals and don't want to hurt them, but if I had a mini-flamethrower, I would burn every single damned ant in my apartment. I found TWO of them on my desk so far today! Arg! I HATE ANTS! Welcome to California: In the summer the ants come in to look for water. In the winter they come in to escape all the rain. Die die die, ants! I hate you! Get out of my apartment!

(I can't believe the LJ spellchecker doesn't recognize "mage" as a word...)

Comments

[gmth.livejournal.com]

What's really disappointing me about TM is the way the challenges are worded. So far they've both been questions, and that just begs for the RPG-style posts. I don't *want* to write RPG-style posts. I want to write ficlets. I'm finding it hard to do so with these challenges so far.

Not to mention the fact that I and a few friends got into a kerfuffle with a few of the RPS muses that got unnecessarily nasty. It should never have happened in the first place.

This thing is going to implode someday. Probably sooner rather than later.

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

What's really disappointing me about TM is the way the challenges are worded. So far they've both been questions, and that just begs for the RPG-style posts.

Agreed. I'm afraid that the group has turned out just as it started: Totally on the fly and with no planning... and that just will not work when there are over 200 members. I feel like I should have seen that this wasn't a good idea in the beginning (open to every single theme? AND real people crap?), but hindsight and all that.

Not to mention the fact that I and a few friends got into a kerfuffle with a few of the RPS muses that got unnecessarily nasty.

I totally do not understand people playing/writing for real people, and I avoid all of them just as much as I can. Honestly, the idea scares the hell out of me, because I believe it's a danger to all fandoms; if I found out that someone was writing fiction (let alone slash-ish) about *me*, I'd have lawyers sueing everyone from Al Gore to the newest Microsoft employee. That's just insane, and *not* a can of worms that needs opening...

What was the kerfuffle about?

This thing is going to implode someday. Probably sooner rather than later.

I think you're right, and I won't be too sorry. I've never been in a spammier LJ group before, and I don't mean "spammy" in the way I'll sometimes say "you flist guys are spammy today!" or "HP100 is so spammy this week!" -- there are so many themes I don't care about and just so man posts in general, I'm not reading 99.9% of the stuff posted.

I should leave the group, I bitch about it enough, but I was so excited for the challenge of writing for a new character... I keep hoping things will improve.

What T_M needs is some strong leadership, and clear (and *enforced*) rules...

[gmth.livejournal.com]

I totally do not understand people playing/writing for real people, and I avoid all of them just as much as I can.

Oh, that part doesn't bother me a bit. I really can't look at others and say "ew" about what they choose to read or write, considering my preferred subject matter. ;-) The problem didn't arise because these folks were RPS'ers, but rather because they got bent out of shape about something we considered important and they did not. One of them threw down the gauntlet in a rather nasty way, and we responded and then THEY responded and it got ugly fast.

The thread is here. But please, for the love of god don't post a comment to it. We finally got them off our backs and I don't want to re-open that can of worms. The problem starts about halfway down the page.

...there are so many themes I don't care about and just so man posts in general, I'm not reading 99.9% of the stuff posted.

I wish we had one that was just for HP. In fact, I suggested to Nim and Maeglin that we start one of our own, but neither one has bitten on the idea yet. ;-)

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

*skims the thread* Ugh, yeah.

I wish we had one that was just for HP. In fact, I suggested to Nim and Maeglin that we start one of our own, but neither one has bitten on the idea yet. ;-)

I pondered suggesting that they split T_M up into like a "T_M:HP" group and into the other major themes, as well as an "other" one for the smaller fandoms, but didn't bother sending mail. I doubt they'd go for it, even if I did suggest it...

[mithas.livejournal.com]

Someday's Dreamer! I loved that show, it left me with warm fuzzies after watching the whole series. I keep meaning to pick up the manga, but haven't quite gotten around to it yet. I also have much love for the series' end song.

I haven't watched the Whistle! anime, but I have read part of the manga, and I've watched around 6 episodes of Wild Striker, and the people who said that Wild Striker is better than Whistle! don't know what the hell they were talking about. -_-

Wild Striker may have had potential, somehow, somewhere, but the chemistry isn't there at all. It's dry and you always feel that there's something missing. My tolerance level for sports series' is pretty high, as I tend to enjoy them, but Wild Striker just left me cold.

[maeglinyedi.livejournal.com]

I pondered suggesting that they split T_M up into like a "T_M:HP" group and into the other major themes, as well as an "other" one for the smaller fandoms, but didn't bother sending mail. I doubt they'd go for it, even if I did suggest it...

Don´t bother. Someone already suggested that, but the mods declined. It would go against the purpose of the game, according to the mods. Whatever that purpose might be, I have yet to figure out. ;-)

And I have to agree with Gina´s problem with how the challenges are presented. When I joined, right at the start, I thought it would be a drabble writing community. But as things are now, it seems that the mods only want to encourage the rpg-style posts, and they don´t interest me one bit...yep, even the ones from the HP fandom.

I want to read/write drabbles/ficlets. And that´s what I´m going to do, since that was, according to their own rules, the purpose of the community when it was first created.

[maeglinyedi.livejournal.com]

I wish we had one that was just for HP. In fact, I suggested to Nim and Maeglin that we start one of our own, but neither one has bitten on the idea yet. ;-)

Hehehe. I think you suggested this right when I was finishing up your fic and Nim was giving it a last-minute online beta job. So, yeah...we may have sort of let it pass for that moment. ;-)

But! I´m all for it...let´s discuss the possibilities when Nimmy comes back. :-)

[gmth.livejournal.com]

Excuses, excuses. ;-)

(Which is just my way of acknowledging that I'm busted. LOL!)

Oh hey, I probably won't be around tonight. Going to my mom's to do the big family Christmas thing. Hope you had fun at the circus!

(Sorry to spam your LJ this way, Thistle!)

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

Think there will be another season of Someday's Dreamer? It's such a great idea and handled so well, I know I'll want more after I finish the 12 eps!

Wild Striker may have had potential, somehow, somewhere, but the chemistry isn't there at all. It's dry and you always feel that there's something missing.

Thanks for letting me know. I've been waiting over 24 hours to try to download the last .1% of all the eps over 6. I'm going to end them, then if I like the first five, go back to trying to download them.

Whistle! is hard to get your hands on, but if you spot it I'd *strongly* recommend grabbing a copy. It's one of my favorites so far.

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

(Sorry to spam your LJ this way, Thistle!)

Not a problem at all!

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

Don´t bother. Someone already suggested that, but the mods declined. It would go against the purpose of the game, according to the mods. Whatever that purpose might be, I have yet to figure out. ;-)

You know, if they *stated* the purpose of the game, it might save everyone some trouble. They could chase off pesky us who just want to write, and welcome the RPG folks with open arms. ;)

I want to read/write drabbles/ficlets. And that´s what I´m going to do, since that was, according to their own rules, the purpose of the community when it was first created.

Agreed! Right there with you! (Write there with you? Heh.)

[morinotokei.livejournal.com]

I've been wanting to reply to your entries for the past couple days now. Curse holiday activities for interfering with my LJ time! ^_~ So um, fly-by response.

I'm so glad you like Whistle!, because I love that series to death. I like it more than Prince of Tennis, especially the story and emotional appeal. You already know how I feel about the characters and how hard they work to win a game, compared to the way things are in TeniPuri. My obsession with TeniPuri has less to do with the actual story than it has to do with all the extras, the quirkiness of the characters, and the ability to fangirl along with so many others, if you know what I mean.

I want to check out Someday's Dreamer, but have no idea where it's available for download.

Oh, and forgot to tell you, but I've watched up to ep 10 of Fullmetal Alchemist and am in love with the series. Will hopefully get to watch the two remaining available eps today.

Anyway, I hope you're enjoying your holidays. ^_^

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

I'm so glad you like Whistle!, because I love that series to death. I like it more than Prince of Tennis

I have a hard time saying which of the two I like, because (despite them both being about sports) they're really very different creatures. I love Whistle! for its greater realism -- that people actually have to work to win and to make progress, and that teamwork takes effort and all that. Like you said, TeniPuri has lots of other things -- great, fun characters, slashiness out the wazoo, etc. I love them both for different reasons, and I don't think I could pick between the two...

I want to check out Someday's Dreamer, but have no idea where it's available for download.

I picked it up off a private server. I'll send you an email about it, I don't want to mention it here in public comments.

Oh, and forgot to tell you, but I've watched up to ep 10 of Fullmetal Alchemist and am in love with the series. Will hopefully get to watch the two remaining available eps today.

Woo! Great to hear! And newly translated eps come out every Sunday afternoon, so you'll have another to watch soon!

[mithas.livejournal.com]

I doubt they'll be making a second season for Someday's Dreamer which is a real shame, as I would have loved to have seen more of it. The end of episode 12 especially, gave me this warm fuzzy nostalgic feeling. It's one of the reasons why I like the series so much. The ending left me feeling really good about it.

Whistle! is hard to get your hands on. Even on A-K's IRC channel it's quite the trouble to download, as most of the fserves aren't serving it. -_-

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

I'm in the middle of ep 11 right now, and loving it more and more as it goes on. *sniff* I think I must be ragingly PMS, as the entire thing makes me want to cry. I hope everything gets explained by the end...

Once I'm finished, I'll be posting about it.