...way out on the corner of fucked up and evil...

VICTORY IS MINE! I have at last triumphed over the beast that is Gamestec, and having completed my nine-day stint, I may now kick back and enjoy my four-day weekend with the Hogfather, Torchwood and whatever episodes of the Wire that I don't watch tonight. Also, I would like to say that Stringer Bell makes economics both sexy and dangerous, and if he was an actual lecturer instead of a drug-dealing dealer of drugs, I would actually get up on time for his classes. Because otherwise he would KILL ME DEAD in both a literal and figurative sense.

In other news, though the Devil in Amber may lack the homoerotic misadventures that made the Vesuvius Club such a bundle of man-lovin' joy, it does without a doubt have the best opening line ever: "He was American, so it seemed only fair to shoot him." Aanywa, it is plenty homoerotic thus far and I think Miriglum is telling lies when she says otherwise.

Also, you know what I totally forgot to mention in my trauma over Greasy McPimpface and my glee over Torchwood? This absolutely spooktastic fog that came out of NOWHERE IN PARTICULAR last Thursday. Seriously, I said goodbye to HAG, went into Borders, noodled around somewhat and bought Torchwood, and when I emerged Leeds was made entirely of grey spooky greyness! And then I had to walk home and it was pretty damn spooky, but not in a cool way like fog on the IoM is spooky, where all it's hiding is boring Isle of Man-ness, but in a SCARY and UNPLEASENT way whereby the fog is hiding NEFARIOUS VILLIANS. And because this is Leeds, it wouldn't be cool nefarious villians like werewolves or ghostcars, but distasteful and everyday nefarious villians like muggers and rapists.

Anyway, I believe that's about it for tonight, so I bid you adeiu and farewell while I go and enjoy my FOUR DAY WEEKEND! Later days.

La! Well, that was more fun than being attacked by a swarm of roboinsectobots, even if they were wearing hats. I've just got back from three days in Haye-on-Wye, and yes, Snithy, it does exist although it turns out I was wrong about the houses being built from books and eating books and the people in fact being talking books with legs, but none-the-less, it was booktastic and now I have absolutely no money for the rest of the month. But I do have several beautiful illustrated books on fairytales and, for reasons that shall go unexplained, two plant holders, a Scooby Doo board game and a bag of paper mache skulls. Which proves that even in a town made entirely from books, I will find a way to spend my money on crap. And blame it on Miriglum, who blatently encouraged me.

In other news, I am now seeking to unravel one of the greatest mysteries of the world. No, not "Can homies and lumberjacks ever be friends?", nor even "What good are shoes without cute animals on them?". Nay, I fear the question I seek to answer is even greater that these. Namely:

Is the Nightmare Before Christmas a Halloween film or a Christmas film?

Wish me luck, friends, for no doubt my quest for the ultimate knowledge will be fraught with peril and danger and monkeys at every turn. In the meantime, I have to go peel the "Made on China" stickers off a bunch of skulls, so farewell!

So today the Miriglum came over and I was able to share the wonder that is Eerie, Indiana with her. I think it may become my new Fandom That I Will Not Shut The Hell Up About, At Least For This Week. Things discussed were...

1: Even in 1992, on a crappy TV show budget, that werewolf still looks better than Lupin in HP3.

2: The werewolf kind of looked like a Lassiedog head on a man's body.

3: In fact, it kind of looks like Jajuka, Dilandau/Celena's dogman friend in Escaflowne.

4: Dash X bears more than a passing resemblence to Dilandau, especially in his totally molesterable bartending outfit.

5: Marshall is, however, both too emotionally stable and too well-groomed to make a decent Van.

6: Simon can be Guimel.

7: The look Dash gives Marshall when he drinks that werewolf cure is definatly dodgy, but opinion is divided on whether this is attributable to naughty low-down tingles or basic sadistic glee.

( The rest of this post has been cut to save your Friends Page... )

And, as promised earlier, the teachings of Froodle:

Stupid Irish jewellery, uses of:

This, by the way, is all the Miriglum's fault, for texting me during the early hours to say that, in Buffy's place, she wouldn't be so quick to discard rings with the power to make naked Angel fall from the ceiling. This naturally lead to a conversation about where such magical Angel-summoning rings could be aquired, but in the end we were forced to abandon the idea due to my conviction that such actions would lead to the summoning of Fat!Xander and my untimely and very painful death.

The moral of this story is that you should never, ever wear stupid Irish jewellery, or you might get crushed to death by Fat!Xander falling on you from a great height.

I think I just found the perfect gift idea for Hex's birthday.

Wesley's spine-collecting activities:

Cast your minds back to the halcyon days of Angel S2. It was a golden age, full of snarkiness, Barry Manilow and Angel's please-don't-seduce-me face. And Steve, of course.

But more importantly, this was the point at which Wesley went from annoying git who had the audacity to replace Doyle, to a character who (until replaced by the Robowes in season 3) was likable, amusing and possessed of an actual backbone.

Where did this backbone come from, you ask? Well, the only possible answer is that Wesley stole it from someone else. Who this first victim was is unknown, but it seems likely that this was merely the begining in a long career of spine-stealery, later continued by the Robowes.

Certainly by "That Old Gang Of Mine", Wesley was sporting a shiny new spine, as demonstrated by his speech to Gunn at the end of the episode. But secretly, his misappropraited spine had been in place long before this: sending the rebels off to die in Pylea, and telling Meanie!Angel to get out during the whole Darla fiasco, not to mention his (hilarious) Angel impersonation in "Guise Will Be Guise" - although that could have been The Coat controlling him, in much the same way Gravitation's Hatre is controlled by his Hat.

Alas, one spine was not enough, and Wesley soon began a downward spiral of spine-stealage. While Gunn's sudden change in attitude in season 3 could have been due to Fred's personality-sucking influence, it could also have been the work of that master spine-stealer, Wesley. Kidnapping Baby!Connor under the pretense of the doomful prophecy was also clearly Robowes attempting to steal his spine without Angel noticing (though anyone who falls for the Evil Hand line is obviously too dense to notice his son's new-found spinelessness, and is yet another example of the Robowes malfunctioning).

The Robowes continued this legacy until the very end, and, late in season five, took on an apprentice in the form of Illyria, as evidenced by her "I will make trophies of their spines!" line in "Not Fade Away". You may think it was just Blue!Fred's usual posturing, but in fact, these spines were intended as a peace offering to the Robowes.

Angelus Concentrate

With the recent announcement of an exclusive, limited edition Faith collectable plate being released to compliment the forthcoming Angel collectable plate series, I have reached the conclusion that the Angel Merchandising Fools are planning to release a whole range of kitchenware and foodstuffs, turning Angel into something akin to the Hello Kitty franchise.

With this in mind, we bring you: Angelus Tabasco Sauce.

Yes, that's right, sprinkle neat over salads or pizza for a full-on Angelus experiance, or dilute with soul and tomatoes for a truly Angelic pasta dish.

Because frankly, the sort of people who make Wesley collectable plates will stop at nothing.

Today is Bernard Black day. Yay for Hexmas! Also, in honour of Bernard Black, the ban on Fancying Irish People has been amended to create an exception for characters played by Dylan Moran. not that I imagine many people will fancy Simon from Shawn of the Dead, but oh well.

Urgh, my head - the Miriglum and I watched six consecutive hours of Big Wolf on Campus this afternoon and I think I've finally gone insane.

Also, I do not have a 'Mertonface', whatever that means, and even if I did, which I don't, I don't make it over Bernard Black. Though I admit to finding his hair rather attractive.

Have just got back from second showing of Prisoner of Azkaban. Had to fight down the urge to scream "You cancelled Angel! You get no thanks!" at the giant WB logo at the start of the film. The Miriglum and I amused ourselves during the adverts and trailers by playing the David Boreanaz game - essentially, pointing out how including DB could make something better. Needless to say, I totally walked into an Angel is Fat joke when the Lurpack advert was shown. Goddamn Lurpack.

Also saw the trailer for the new Garfield movie: there is no God.

Further Harry Potter-related ponderage:

I really feel Alfonso Cuaron is playing the story for laughs in places where it doesn't fit. The scene with Aunt Marge, for example.

I'd also like to know where Harry lives that his local park isn't full of druggies and drop-outs at night.

The skinniness of Neville is just wrong.

Emma Thompson is incredibly disappointing as Trelawney. Which is sad, because I was expecting much from her. Le sigh.

Draco's origami love-note. What the hell? Does he have weather-predicting powers now or something?

Deadric Ciggory being hit by lightening. Ha!

"The spiders, they want me to tap-dance. I don't want to tap-dance!"
"You tell those spiders, Ron."
Aww, such cuteness. I love Ron.

Aah, looks like Big Wolf on Campus will be back next week. Must have been screwy half-term scheduling. Goddamn Fox.

Also, neglected to mention last night, the guy that plays Stan Shunpike in PoA is the guy who played Hollom in Master and Commander. That amuses me.

What does not amuse me is the recent spate of Angel is Fat jokes I have been subjected to lately. Miriglum, Hex, Jonathan: knock it the fuck off, you bastards.

Poor fat Angel. Steve will always love you.