(Re)Introduce Yourself

[Tony]

Some of us are veterans, but there are some new people floating around here and there that I don't recognize. So come in and introduce yourself or give us an update on what you're doing since last time you were here.

[Tony]

And taking the attention sleeper spot of admin is your very own Tony.

*fake applause is heard*

Yeah! Whoo!

No one really cares.

I like to be nostalgic at times. Besides trying to electroshock TWW back into life I've done things like dug out my box of Legos or bought Super Mario RPG to play on my still working SNES. I do believe that you will find me forty years from now gaming on an N64 because Luigi can still be found somewhere in the game.

The past is something I live to experience. I love to learn about history from the long tapestries of long standing civilizations like China to stories my grandfather will tell me. Any history and all history I don't mind learning. That is in part why I am going to school to major in Anthropology.

Me being a foolish and naive person thought I understood people well enough in junior high and early high school that I should be a psychologist. That's a bunch of bull and I am glad I realized that. I ended up taking an Intro to Psych class my first semester of college for shits and giggles to see if I would still be interested in it. I wasn't. I found things useful for Anthropology, but that is it.

Now for Anthropology I plan on doing archaeology. Specifically the Mesoamerican people. And whenever I mention them people usually don't know who I'm talking about so I have to tell them. In case you don't know they are the Aztecs, Mayas, and Olmec (and Toltec, Zapotec, Mixtex, etc). If I weren't going to study them I would probably do China. I've even toyed with an idea for a dissertation already after being in college for only a year.

Besides history I have a few other passions; TV, movies, music. I could write pages on it all, but I won't. I will simply say a few things. Battlestar Galactica and Scrubs are my two most favorite shows of all time. I like too many movies to list. And if I could meet one band and die afterward it would be Journey (with Steve Perry) in less than a heartbeat.

I keep up the news a lot, but not any political news. I'm more toward the discoveries and cool shit as well as the latest buzz in the movie bizz. I've got a few archaeology resources, a few tech resources, and one fantastic movie resource. I'm set with all the info I'll ever need.

Zombies. It could happen. I've got a plan in case it does. Call me paranoid, call me crazy, but never call me unprepared. I'm the guy you want to turn to in case shit goes down, trust me. Just hope I don't stand there from shock when I realize its actually happening.

I also have short bursts of intense ambition. If I don't have people alongside help me to carry it on whatever I'm working on will fall apart and all with be for naught. That means that you, yes you, must help keep this board alive. Tell people you know, spread the word to other forums that you think people would be interested in talking about The Wheel of Time. If you do work, I do work, everyone ends up doing work, and everything is %100 awesome.

It is now past midnight, which is unusual for me to be up so late. I should probably turn it. Or at least end this. You'll get to know me or reknow me as time goes on. No use telling you all there is about me otherwise we don't have anything to talk about!

[Victor]

As you might have guessed, I'm Victor. Used to hang around this place a fair amount a couple years ago, back after it was first created, but then it sort of died. I'm not as much of a Wheel of Time fan as I was back then, but I'll be poking my head in this place occasionally because I remember how entertaining it used to be.

And how have I been since this board's glory days? Well, for one, I've graduated high school and moved onto college. Have not decided what I'm going to major in yet, but I'm thinking either English or Economics, with the second being a very real possibility because my grade in Statistics was nowhere near the disaster I had anticipated. Also living in one of my university's program houses next year, which means I did not have to put up with its general housing system and do not have to get by in the dorms.

I read at a snail's pace these days, but I've made it my goal to read at least a few Notable Works of Literature this summer. (Sounds like a fairly poignant promise, but not really -- I have plenty of books sitting on my bookshelf waiting to be read, and plenty won't take more than a night or two. But then there are the monsters...)

Also, I'm still a wannabe writer despite largely taking a break from fiction. These days, I keep in practice by writing journal entries and posting one as a Facebook note every Wednesday. Definitely sort of amateurish and self-indulgent, but it helps me refine my writing ability and lets me keep in touch with my friends.

Finally, the good old video game progress report. I haven't been able to play as many games as I'd like because of college and all, but now that I'm home I've started to slowly but surely make my way through Persona 4. Amazing game, and a definite improvement over its predecessor. Suikoden Tierkreis is also on my list of games that I need to beat, but I'm much less enthusiastic about it. In my opinion, it's a dumbed-down entry in one of my favorite video game series... but that's another rant for another post.

[Silvion]

Berry, here. And no, I don't mind the name. I am currently about to finish my first year at college. I will major in History and will probably get a geography minor. Not sure about that though. My goal is to become a history-teacher. I specialize myself in European early medieval history, allthough every period with swords works for me. I'm an intern at a high school in Purmerend (which is about 10 miles from Amsterdam). It rocks, because the kids are crazy and the teachers even crazier.

I don't live with my parents anymore, but with my girlfriend in a rental home. This is actually quite nice because I get to bang the misses whenever I feel like it (hope there are no galls around to read this).

I've recently picked up my hiking-hobby again. Being a student again has made me realise that expensive holidays are blasphemy to your wallet so I decided to go backpacking through Austria (with my girl), Spain and France (with my friends), and Scotland (alone. Alba rocks!). As a result I might have smelly socks so if you see me have a care and keep your eyes on my feeth.

Furthermore, I still read, kickbox, fitness, drink and game (much to my girlfriends annoyence (When she complains I always tell her to go and play the "wash-the-dishes-and-prepare-me-some-food"-game)).

Thats about it. I just realised I have more posts than Vic and it strangely gives me a satisfied feeling in my tummy (tummy, the person who came up with that word should get a medal or the hangmans noose, you decide!).

[Delerious]

Apart from the fact that I joined a few years ago I’m still fairly new here. I like to think that I’ve grown since then but, sadly, that can only be applied mentally. I currently just completed my first year of university and am anticipating my exam results this coming month. I’m taking Psychology but, unlike Tony, am not doing it for “shits and giggles”, although I do consider myself to be somewhat cynical; a cynical psychologist if you will. I hope to go into criminology with a dash of journalism, but that ambition may be as fickle as my calcium levels (I’m relatively …not strong).

When I’m not agonising over my studies I draw, I write (movie and music reviews in particular), I go out, I eat, I sometimes forget to eat and I read. At this point, I wouldn’t particularly consider The Wheel of Time to be a work of art nor would I consider Robert Jordan the best writer in the world – at least not since book 6 and beyond. I would have considered the series my Bible (if I cared for any religious affiliations, which I don’t) between books 1-5, however. Which brings me to another point: I hate religion, especially when it’s portrayed as something akin to magic.

I love music, including Sigur Ros, Pink Floyd (The Wall is the best album ever), Emiliana Torrini, Arcade Fire, Radiohead, The Knife, Fever Ray, The Decemberists, Odawas, Neutral Milk Hotel, etc (if you really want to know, here’s my last.fm: www.last.fm/user/JustFrogs ). I’m open to anything new and quirky. My favourite films include all of Darren Aronofsky’s and most of Pedro Almodovar’s contributions, Donnie Darko, Mulholland Drive, Amelie, Pan’s Labyrinth and I recently saw Coraline and loved it. I’ve also never met anyone who doesn’t like The Lion King.

All in all, I’m pretty normal (but “weird” is often a characteristic people use around me). I hate London weather – it’s like trying to regulate your shower temperature. I’ve lived in the UK most of my life though and as such have learnt, in Bill Bailey’s words, to “crave disappointment”.

[Tony]

You know, it isn't like I still worship The Wheel of Time anymore. I realize it isn't the greatest series on earth nor is RJ the greatest writer. It is just something I enjoy reading. People may not like it and that's okay with them. Not everyone likes everything someone else likes. And besides, its not like we really do a lot of discussing of the book here anyway. Its more of a point that we share in common and can branch off of into different areas.

[Delerious]

It is just something I enjoy reading.

Well, I'm afraid we just simply can't be friends!!

Don’t get me wrong – I appreciate the books. They were fun for a while but they hit a rut. It felt half assed. The most recent ones (excluding The Knife of Dreams) were like walking through mud. You couldn’t find a decent enough personality in them to really care, you know? What’s more, I love discussing the books. Discussion usually involves a difference in opinion. I like that, too.

[Tony]

I know the series went downhill after book five. I can admit to that. Its not like I'm denying it and blindly saying everything is okay. That would be idiotic. Every series gets a low point. It could be in the beginning, the middle, or the end. For The Wheel of Time it looks like it will be the middle. Things will work out and everything will be fine.

[Delerious]

Not every series gets a low point (e.g. His Dark Materials). But, not every series is as long as this one. I'm also glad we're agreeing to...agree. Hopefully, you're right regarding the forthcoming book(s). Next time Book Debate, maybe?

[Tony]

I am unfamiliar with His Dark Materials. Who writes it?

We probably should move it to Book Debate next time although I don't really know what we're arguing about