Ho, ho, ho everybody. Yes, it's that time of the year again where parents are worried sick about whether they'll get that must-have toy that little Timmy wants. Indeed, the Christmas season if definitely upon us. So what's been happening lately in my world? Read on, and thou shall see...


I've been bogged down with assignment for the last several weeks. First was a marketing report on Apple computers, which I really enjoyed. As research, I saw the awesome movie, "Pirates of Silicon Valley" which Mike passed on to me (Khang, watch it now!). I was also able to sing praises about the company who has replaced Sony in my life. Ah bliss. I'm expecting a good mark back from it and will probably find out this time next week.
The second assignment was for my minor, information management. I was asked to assess the performance and practices behind Google and a subject gateway, of which I chose the e-journal site I use for marketing purposes. It was a rubbish assignment, asking you to go into detail about topics and areas where only personnel from the two respective sources will know about. Piece o' shit.
The third assignment was the one I was least looking forward to all semester. It was a group research project for my consumer behaviour module where I ended up doing the work of 5 people. My group were absolutely useless and as such, I ended up doing all the research, analysis, and report write-up. One guy even turned up drunk, drunk I say, to one of our few meetings. I consequently threw him out and allotted him zero points in the group evaluation portion. Luckily, my lecturer for the module knows me very well (she is a referee on my CV after all) and said she'd look into it with great detail. She then asked me when I was due to graduate and told me to let her know if I ever struggled to start-off my career in marketing. Is this favouritism at work, I think so but I ain't complaining.
The fourth is due in this Friday and it's on flexible working practices within organisations. I've done the reading, have loads of sources and should be a piece of cake.
The fifth and final assignment is for marketing research and I've been asked to create and research a focus group and their perfume or fragrance preferences. Theoretically, it should be easy but I'm going to have to fake the results again; I seriously do no know how anybody could be interviewed for 20 minutes or so about why they like Channel no. 5 or what not. It's a perfume, you wear it because it smells nice, the end.


I went home again recently for Memorabilia at the NEC, which was pants. Same-old tat all over again and I left with nothing. I think I'm going to start going every other Memorabilia in an attempt to freshen things up for myself because it's simply not worth the effort in my current situation.


Returning to Birmingham with Khang, we were able to have one of our 3 hour long conversations which we've not had for a while. Topics of discussion? Being fed up with Aberystwyth and student life in general. I've been in this town too long now and everything is starting to really get to me. There's nothing fresh and new here and there doesn't seem to be anything I can do about it, this semester at least.


We've decorated our house up with lovely, tacky Christmas ornaments in an attempt to liven things up. I think it's worked; the place is certainly looking very festive and we even have a tree in the kitchen. We've done a secret santa which we'll be exchanging gifts for on Friday.


Went over to Mike and Chris' last night for a lovely Christmas dinner. Hats off to the chef (Chris), you certainly outdid yourself again. The traditional "tipsy log" also went down a treat and look forward to it again next year. I was also presented with the opportunity to watch Family Guy which I had never seen before and you know what, I liked it, I really did. I'll have to see some more at some point because it seriously is some funny shit. Afterwards, I made my way back home only to find I was the only one there. Since I'd dressed up for the event, I decided not to waste it and went out drinking with a post-grad friend. Man, them cocktails at the Cambrian are lethal especially when you have two and have my tolerance...


Games, I've not had the chance to play Soul Calibur 3 in a while and probably won't until I go home for Christmas. I'm trying to get some research done on the various in's and out's of Naruto - Gekitou Ninja Taisen 4 and whether it's worth a purchase or not. JPNgames.co.uk have the limited edition in stock with a plushie Pak-kun though from what I've heard, the game has been restructured and is even more difficult to work through menus blind. We shall see, we shall see.


Anime, I'm still pissed off with the current season. Those who know me will know my views on watching stuff more than once in my own time since I'm always in the pursuit of something new and fresh. Well, I've started watching Gankutsuou again since there is nothing new and fresh this season (bar one or two things which I'll get on to). It's a cracking series and despite having watched it only 7 months ago, I am enjoying the re-tread and being able to take in everything again from a different perspective.

Mai-Otome has picked up the pace as expected and I've found several others watching the series along with me. What I enjoyed most about Mai-HiME was watching it with Stu and breaking each episode down, trying to figure out where they would go. The same applies to Mai-Otome; I have faith the writers won't let me down.

Today, I saw the latest episode of Shuffle which started back in the Summer season. I was telling Mike about the latest events and he correctly remembered that it was a typical harem-romantic comedy type of series. Well, throw all of that knowledge out the window because it's now full of teenage angst, drama, and mentally unstable girls. Yes, you read that right; 4 out of the 5 potential girls Rin will end up with should be locked up in the funny farm.
Nerine, has two souls, one of which is the soul of her deceased clone.
Lisanthia suffers schizophrenia and has taken on the personality of her deceased sister.
Primula, well, she's a soul-less frankenstein creation from the combined efforts of the world of Gods and Demons.
And Kaede, oh Kaede. She was very ill as a child and as a result, her parents along with Rin's returned early from a business trip to see her only to die in a traffic accident. Not knowing the reason why they died, Rin told her that he'd asked them to come home. Kaede goes nuts, and begins her path of vindication, one such scene involving a retractable craft knife and Rin's face. She eventually finds out years later through chance that they were actually coming home to see Kaede and she goes even more nuts. Feeling nothing but utter remorse for her actions, she's devoted her life to taking care of Rin in her home. Now, what do you think would happen if Rin were to bring the girl he's secretly fancied all along home? That's right, all hell breaks loose and Kaede's back on the path to emotional trauma.
I simply cannot wait to see where this will go.


Right now, I'm sitting in B23 waiting for this month's union general meeting. I can't wait, really I can't.