Cool

I'm one of those old-fashioned people who believe that literature changes us.

That was how one of my English professors today introduced herself to those who didn't know her. Neat, eh?
BTW, remember this incident? That was her as well =)

Geek-o-rama! Today: DVD @ PS2

I have a standalone DVD player. It's really, really old. When I bought it, the DVD sections in stores were still pretty small. The player is terribly huge and heavy compared to the ultra-slim models you get today. But I'll be keeping it as long as possible.
Why?
Because it's codefree. It's not even a mod, you could buy it like that back then. I have a few American DVDs and my player is the only one around that can play them. Also, my unit overrides the Macrovision copy protection which allows me to transfer a movie to a VHS tape (!) Did that for mum a couple of times before she got a DVD player of her own.
Of course, with such an old machine, there are some problems as well.
For example, the thing has a tendency to freeze, especially when it's been in pause mode for too long. Its error correction is also pretty mediocre.
Another big issue I ran into a few weeks ago is the fact that the thing doesn't like PCM audio streams if they're encoded in an MPEG container. Sound comes out terrible if this is the case and there's nothing I can do about it. Unfortunately, the DVDs hun burns from the stuff he records on his HDD receiver are like ths.
Luckily, I've got another DVD player besides the drives in my PC: My sadly neglected PS2 ^_^
That lovely black little thing plays MPEG audio DVDs just fine.
Somehow, I think I might like to get a PS2 remote. I only have one normal controller anyway so the second slot is free. And I love having many remotes. Looks geekish ;) You should see hun's army of remotes, I guess he might have more than a dozen by now. Note to self: Take a pic of them next time...

BTW, a fun PS2 fact: Back when that console was still new, the rate of sold games per unit was less than one. Why? Because back then, "real" DVD players were still very expensive and so, for many people, the PS2 was a welcomed, cheaper alternative. It's being predicted that a similar thing might happen with BluRay and the PS3.

The Last Unicorn

People who know me know that I tend to cry over music. Not because it's sad or anything, just because to me, melodies are an extremely, extremely emotional thing. Actually, I tend to get emotional over tunes that are not sad at all.
Anyway.
One of the first songs that made me cry - and probably will continue to do so for all eternity - is "The last unicorn".
I loved that movie when I was a kid even though some parts scared me to death and I don't think I understood a lot of what it's about.

But I liked the skeleton (I read the English voice was doine by Rene Auberjonois [Odo in DS9] - Woah!) ;) And the music was good.
For the German version, they did at least one strange thing. One or two of the songs are neither dubbed nor subtitled. Instead, they make the German vocie actors speak on top of the English stuff that's being sung. No kidding. Stupid, cheap, ridiculous.
But I think I can make an elaborate guess on why they did that.
Back then, Disney was the only thing in animation that was really big. And The last Unicorn wasn't Disney so it might have had pretty low priority (and budget) when being dubbed. Though, some of the German voice actors were pretty good, and one or two even quite famous. Still, that over-dubbing thing is inexcusable and I've never seen anything like it in any other movie. Rawr.

And now I sit here and wonder why I never bought the thing on DVD. I mean, that movie might be good when dubbed, but I guess watching the original would be even cooler.
BTW, did you know that Christopher Lee voiced King Haggard in the German version as well? Well, that explains the accent XD Good job, though, seeing how German is bloody difficult ;)

And then, what's with Madonna? I never really liked her or her music, in fact, some of the more recent songs made me wonder about whether she's trying to make fun of her fans. And now she put out the second song in a row that I simply adore to death. Something's very wrong here O_O
(Though, someone should've told her that she's completely mispronouncing the "Ich bin traurig" (I'm sad) part in the intro XD)

Nostalgia, anyone?

When the last eagle flies over the last crumbling mountain
And the last lion roars at the last dusty fountain
In the shadow of the forest though she may be old and worn
They will stare unbelieving at the last unicorn

When the first breath of winter through the flowers is icing
And you look to the north and a pale moon is rising
And it seems like all is dying and would leave the world to mourn
In the distance hear the laughter of the last unicorn

I’m alive, I’m alive

When the last moon is cast over the last star of morning
And the future has passed without even a last desperate warning
Then look into the sky where through the clouds a path is torn
Look and see her how she sparkles, it’s the last unicorn

I’m alive, I’m alive

Feels streange, especially cuz I'm now able to understand what the lyrics mean.
But even back then, I felt that it must be really beautiful. And it is.
Okay, the animation did a lot to make you understand as well. They pictured a lot of the stuff that's in there.
Awww, so wonderful...

(BTW - Sorry for spamming XD)

I was just thinking...

... how the heck could anyone resist someone when they look at you like this:



Huh??????