/ pretty hate machine /

mp3 half century search

2008-06-30T02:12:00Z

Does anyone have the following songs in mp3? I'm using them in a university video product. Thank you! *fingers crossed*

"I'm A Believer" - The Monkees (for the 60s)
"Golden Years" - David Bowie (for the 70s)
"Beat It" - Michael Jackson (for the 80s)
"Macarena" - Los Del Rio (for the 90s)

I already have a song for the 00s.

pimp

2008-06-28T00:43:30Z

Signing up for another LIMS: bsg_lims :)

Anticipation hurts like a bitch

2008-06-20T19:16:58Z

*has a break from visual arts portfolio*

OMG, the wait for the new Who is killing me. I'm thinking of everything in terms of Who now! I even made a time vortex for my portfolio!

And I think "The Call" (from the Narnia soundtrack) would work for Rose. Whatcha think?

THANK YOU SHOUTOUT!

2008-06-16T15:43:01Z

Thank you to EVERYONE who left messages on my lj, left messages (and sometimes cards!) on their own ljs, or sent me a virtual gift! (Thanks to three awesome ladies known as o_lonelily, sanami276, and beeej, I now have two flavours of cupcakes and a big sparklin' diamond.) I really can't thank you all enough for thinking of me! :) My birthday was a bit on the bad side since I spent most of the day writing an essay, but you guys made it better - in fact, you were the best part of my birthday, so THANK YOU! The friendship and caring I've found on lj over the years always keeps me smiling.

On a less happier note, I went to the doctor today to get a medical certificate for uni (I've been stressing out since two assignments were due today and I couldn't get them done thanks to my week in bed). It appears my cold has transformed itself into the beginnings of bronchitis. It could be much, much worse - it's basically only a wracking cough and a sore chest - so I've been given antibiotics to fend it off at the pass.

Um, what else is new? Well, Doctor Who had a good week, didn't it? I didn't like it as much as the previous two-parter, but it had that creepy factor and David Tennant being awesomeness. Consequently, it makes me want David (Hewlett) or Tricia (Helfer) to have a part in it! Ah, fandom crossover dreams :D.

I'm also seeking to build up my music collection once again, so I'll SQUISH you and LOVE you if you have any of the following songs on mp3:

~~Four Minutes - Madonna and Justin Timberlake~~ (I know, but it's just... addictive!)
Sweet About Me - Gabriella Cilmi
~~Gorecki - Lamb~~
Better Than - John Butler Trio
~~Hey There Delilah - Plain White T's~~

Thanks in advance!

Amsie's Birthday 2008 thread

2008-06-11T16:12:16Z

Thank you o_lonelily for the virtual birthday cupcake! :)

I know I've been dreadful updating my lj due to a combination of work and uni (it's now assessment week, so I've vowed I'm not working at the nursing home until it's all over). ANYWAY...

Today marks my 21st birthday :). I'm sick with a cold and dry coughing all the time, so I'm not doing anything for the day. I'll get myself a new top or PC game sometime later to make up for it. My Mum is depressed because she can't be here and she hasn't managed to send me a card (she thinks my 21st is a really significant milestone, but eh, in my mind that was my 18th), but I'm trying to make her understand that it's fine.

I'd much rather see the very beautiful sight of finished assessments all bundled up on my bed and ready to go to uni (ah, daydreams ;)).

In celebration, let's dance to David Bowie's "Golden Years". eee, I love this song. Spam your flist with this song!

Mmm... colour

2008-05-10T12:37:13Z

Been a while since I went BSG cap hunting, so I found my favourite sites closed. I did stumble across another source, though the quality was low. In any case, "Faith" inspired me to make a few Six/Natalie icons.

1. 2. 3.

4. 5. 6.

And we also have my sg1_lims entries up for grabs:

7. 8. 9. 10.

All snaggable :). Comments loved.

"Faith", lantis, and yadda yadda

2008-05-10T09:54:23Z

Mmm, yes, I've downloaded nearly every episode of BSG S4 for the new Cylon storylines. "Faith", in particular, was S1 WOW worthy. I've watched certain parts over and over (you'll know which based on my Cylon love). Also, Sam Anders = awesome.

I want to make Natalie icons.

Round 4 of lantis_lims is here! Go sign-up and spread the word! I'll probably be going after recent iconmakers appearing on stargate_icons to stir interest.

Let's see... what else? I'm getting over what appeared to be a 48-hour bug with muscular aches and stomach pains. It was... odd.

Looking forward to new Who tomorrow! *cheers!*

And hi to new flisters from the McShep friending meme! I do usually post more often! Really!

pimping!

2008-04-14T08:16:27Z

Time for a spot of pimping!

New icon collection: included are all my sticksandsnark entries, my mini-"Aurora" collection, and various LIMS entries.

45 icons in all. No spoilers.

The rest are here. Feedback = much love :D.

If you compare my entries there with my entries for last year, there is a change in quality (which makes me happy 'cause I like seeing myself improve).

Also, I'm pimping out sg1_lims, a Stargate SG-1 LIMS comm run by beeej and hsapiens. Sign-ups are currently open and the mods already have the caps for the first three weeks up :).

Links to layouts?

2008-04-14T06:46:29Z

Do me a favour, guys: could you point me in the direction of new CSS layouts? Anyone have any favourites they're currently using? I'm thinking lantis_lims might need a complete layout overhaul. Thank you in advance! :)

prepping for sticksandsnark

2008-04-12T14:42:20Z

I've finished my sticksandsnark assignment, yay! I didn't manage to make as many Rodney/Teyla icons as I'd hoped, mostly because a) Rodney is hard for me to icon and b) caps with them together are rare, so I have to rely on blending. In any case, I hope my recipient will be pleased.

Who else is putting the finishing touches on their assignment?

Opera!

2008-04-09T18:52:04Z

IE, you have pissed me off for the LAST time! I happen to love right clicking and when you mess that up, it makes me very irritated!

IE, you are the weakest link. Goodbye.

Hel-lo, Opera. Aren't you pretty?

(I was going to go with Firefox since I already have it installed, but I seem to like - and operate - Opera better. Plus, Opera is faster than Firefox.)

Reaction to Exit Wounds

2008-04-05T06:34:21Z

Torchwood made me cry. When everyone else was crying and the deaths of Owen and Tosh were so painful, it choked me up. It was a beautiful death for their characters, though. Something meaningful.

"because you're breaking my heart *dies* I just want to watch that over and over. And Tosh's goodbye message.

This felt like the end. I don't think Owen and Tosh are going to come back from the dead. And I'm not looking forward to S3 given what I've read.

Just when I get into the show, everything changes! Damn.

"Aurora" mini-set and upsides and downsides

2008-04-02T15:11:28Z

Upside: I got myself a new job - this time with Queensland Health. I start next Tuesday, yay! Bigger upside: uni holidays very, very soon! :D Downside: my car has decided it doesn't want to switch to LPG when I press the button. I *think* it's only the button because the light doesn't engage and the button *is* wobbly. I'm going to get it looked at tomorrow, but alas, money to fix, gah!

Okay, icon time :). I've been wanting to focus on SGA's "Aurora" and create a little set because the lighting is just so blue and pretty. Twelve icons, all "Aurora"-based. Snaggable etc etc.

1. 2. 3.

4. 5. 6. 7.
8. 9. 10. 11.
12.

#1 = hee. As you can see, most of them are textless and centred - mostly because I think that style speaks for itself.

One quick Star Trek question - has anyone else read "Articles of the Federation"? It's "The West Wing" Star Trek. Seriously. Awesome book, despite borrowing too much from TWW.

dial-up = the special hell

2008-03-27T15:55:47Z

I've used 12GB this month and I'm now on dial-up until the 1st of April. OH NOES! Dial-up is the root of ALL TRUE EVIL. Millions of people across the world just sitting in front of their computers, waiting - the eternal torment!

Gah!

Also, lantis_lims R3 will come to an end this week. Feels really weird. After all, I think R3 has been going on since September. What a commitment by the participants! I really have to take my hat off to them signing up for the long haul and making Amsie a very, very happy girl :D.

In other news, I just read "Terrforming" by Jack Williamson. A little surreal, but also a little creepy (you'll know what I mean if you've read it). The thought of being immortal and knowing the mistakes of your past lives isn't a good existence.

Fic lift-off!

2008-03-24T20:30:56Z

Yay, here we go!

Just A Flare In The Cold, You And Me
PG, no spoilers, 1700-ish

With thanks to spacebabe for greatly improving the story and pointing out when I made little sense :).

Feedback adored (and squished!).

You know, I have to admit that I thought this would be more, erm, uncomfortable. I mean, there are team dynamics to consider - team leader, lead scientist, etcetera, etcetera. This isn’t usually our… thing. Not that this is a bad thing. Good different. Good different… thing."

Volunteer?

2008-03-24T15:09:31Z

I've written another McShep-something for mcsmooch (I participated in the first round, missed the second, so now I'm determined to make it up in the third). It's nearly 1500 words and this time I think it needs someone to look over it and tell me if the romance and situation works. It's PG, btw.

Help?

And a dash of McShep

2008-03-23T14:44:26Z

More fics! The first fic I have for you all is one that scared the rain away, brightened the day, fed all the ducks in the park, took us to the moon. No, really, I can just go on gushing about this story. Why? It's SGA McShep *and* Sarah Connor Chronicles. What a combination!

Mona Lisa Box by tzzzz (R, spoilers for first season of SCC). "Isn't it natural to kill your enemy?"

"But they weren't his enemy. They weren't a threat to him. He just hated them. He didn't try to negotiate. He just wanted them dead."

Skynet didn't negotiate. It just killed, though there was something else, some other purpose, if only she could remember it. "Is Skynet evil?"

John thinks about it for 32 seconds before replying, "No. You have to have a soul to be evil." Gosh, what to say about this story, what to say, what to say. It is so truly excellent and exciting if you like both McKay/Sheppard and Sarah Connor Chronicles. It also left me with quite a few questions and musings. Okay, here's a vague but pretty summary: Love is a most dangerous gift. The actual summary: Rodney McKay is one of the geniuses who created Skynet. John Sheppard is sent back in time to find him.

It's What You Don't See by telesilla (NC-17, AU). "Uh...of course." She blinked and picked up the phone. "We don't usually have anyone...any donors here at night. Let me see who's on call. Um...do you have any preferences?"

For a moment Rodney thought about insisting on a Gaelic speaking, AB positive, red-head with a degree in chemical engineering and nice curvy hips, but he--just barely-- stifled the urge to be an ass and shook his head. "Someone breathing will do as long as the bed has a decent mattress."

"Yes, sir," the girl said and turned away a little as she made her phone call. Rodney is vampire and John is a blood bank worker. They meet. Oh, you get the idea *grins*. Fantastic AU there. I've read it many times.

True Self by velocitygrass (NC-17). "We could play I Spy," Sheppard suggested.

Rodney looked around the room, before returning to Sheppard. "I spy someone whose True Self needs a brain transplant."

"Maybe I can take yours in the second part of the ritual." He grinned, obviously pleased with himself. Aliens made them do it and gave them what appears to be a fairly happy ending. I love the description of the cell, John's resistance, and their emotions. This story needs more readers.

Misinterpretation by velocitygrass (NC-17, post-Atlantis). "You're a hooker?!" Rodney said, only marginally trying to keep it quiet.

"Would you shut up," John said automatically, looking around, but nobody had heard them.

"I can't believe... if you needed money so badly, you could have asked me," Rodney continued.

"It's not like that, Rodney." Hee. What a tease of a teaser. I suggest you scroll down to the bottom and read the first tag, then "Misinterpretation", and then the end tag. It's a more complete story that way. Ah, John, how he gets himself into these things.

A touch of Owen/Tosh recs

2008-03-23T13:46:32Z

Happy Easter, all! In lieu of a pretty graphic, I have a small collection of good Owen/Tosh fics I've read over the past few days. If you know of any other well written Owen/Tosh fics, please direct me to them :).

Oh, FYI, according to my ships poll, 13 people on my flist like Owen/Tosh. Not too shabby at all :D.

Touch, Feel, Loose by abmo (NC-17, spoilers for "Something Borrowed"). He cracked a small smile. "You're a pretty decent dancer, Tosh." He offered and her shyness came back as she ducked her head a bit at the compliment. She never took them that well to begin with, but he knew full well that he had never really given her that many in the first place. Owen isn't an asshole, Tosh is sweet and gets what she wants, and well, it's happy/angsty. But very good!

Compliment by gimmemypickle (short, PG). There is ink staining her fingers and a Post-It stuck to her forehead when she realizes she's in love with a complete prat. You know what with a beginning like that, it has to be both amusing and good.

Portmanteau by blaurosen (PG). He grabbed her arm gently. “Now, hold your arm, ninety degrees, like this, see?” He slid his hand down the back of her arm, then placed his hand under her forearm, keeping it there to support her. He was so close now she could smell his cologne and the beer on his breath, breath that was wafting her hair and warming her ear. She felt as though she could just turn her head slightly and simply press her lips to his. Perhaps this was the moment... Aw. Bittersweet. Poor Tosh.

Ships We Have In Common

2008-03-21T16:11:50Z

Because everyone is doing it (yes, I'm jumping off that bridge right after everyone else as I speak - or rather type ;)). I've restricted my pairings to ones that had me searching for fic.

I've just noticed that as you get to the bottom of the list, it all becomes canon. Woah.

Also, I've probably forgotten some. Bad me. EDIT: omg, I forgot Andromeda. Okay, who else shipped Dylan/Rommie? C'mon, it's human/robot - my flist loves those sorts of pairings ;).

View Poll: Ships We Have In Common

Annoying songs

2008-03-21T15:36:07Z

Article: Top 10 most annoying tracks of all time.

Okay, let's see what we have:

1. 'You're Beautiful', James Blunt (2005) (*head in hands* I kind of like this song, kind of hate. I really don't like how it's so shallow, but hey, just a song.)
2. 'Axel F', Crazy Frog (2005) (NOEEESS. This one *should* die.)
3. 'Mmm Bop', Hanson (1997) (Hee. I've sung along to this a few times. Whatever happened to the Hanson boys? EDIT: I've had a look around Wiki. The first guy in this cover makes such a pretty girl.)

The rest I've never heard of until:

9. 'My Heart Will Go On', Celine Dion (1998) (YES. John Sheppard would agree. I bet this is one of Rodney's sekrit all time favourite love songs. And maybe Rodney cried at the end of Titanic and had Grace Under Pressure flashbacks - but John brought him out of via steamed up glass and handprints.)
10. 'Las Macarena', Los Del Rio (1997) (I *loved* this song. So pointless, but the dance moves were fun.)

What's the worst memory I have of the most over-hyped song? Only Aussies will get this song - "What About Me" by Shannon Noll. *Kids* on my *school bus* were listening to this track. I suppose they thought the world had really wronged their asses.

Torchwood promotional stills?

2008-03-21T11:56:43Z

So where does everyone get their hi-res Torchwood promotional stills? (in particular, the cast shots for S2.) I've had a look around Google, but it didn't bring up anything promising.

(Other than the official site, of course, which I can't access.)

I want to be a member of Torchwood

2008-03-21T02:53:40Z

I have a confession to make: I have started reading Torchwood fanfiction - in particular, Jack/Ianto and Tosh/Owen (but I haven't found anything really good for the latter pairing). I'm trying to avoid straight out PWP, so if you guys have any recs for me, feel free to drop me a link :D.

Hee, the onscreen slash in this episode :D. Great performance by Eve Myles. Tosh being her usual awesome self. The preview for NEXT WEEK. omgs. When will that be screened? I think I heard we might get it this week too. British flisters, help?

Only two eps to go. Noooooes.

Wherein I get a job at a bad nursing home

2008-03-17T15:24:39Z

A new update from the world of me. Oh boy.

Well, as I announced in a previous post, I got another job at one of the nursing homes here. The interview was short, I wasn't asked any questions, and I was called back for orientation the next day. I now know why.

The place is horrible. It's old, crowded (I honestly don't know how they've managed to sardine seventy-some people into that place), the bathrooms are separate from the rooms so you have to transfer people into bed baths in the corridor (I know, what?!), there is no storage space so all the lifters and such are left out on one side of the corridor, and worst of all, they have training days every month (overkill) or so and call themselves "the leaders in Aged Care". Pft, load of bullshit, that.

Today, when I went in for my second shift (in the afternoon, having explicitly told them I could *only* work nights), I asked for a locker given I was told the place has a real problem with stealing and the neighbourhood "isn't good" so don't leave your belongings in the car (let's just say I know my car alarm having set it off when I first got the car from the parents, so it's not a timid little creature) and the *one* administration lady was on her break. I went into the tiny staff room and enquired nicely about it and was told "casuals don't get regular lockers". I'm *not* a casual, first off. But apparently they only have one locker for casuals and if two casuals are on at the same time, it's first come first served. So I was left standing there with my belongings just before the shift, the woman deciding to ignore me and face in another direction.

They also have *no* continuity of care. No handovers, no nursing station, no interaction with your RNs. The paperwork there is *ridiculous*. Child's scribble. How on Earth do they get funding if they only write "good evening for this resident"?

The pay is absolute *shit* because they have a "special employee contract". They won't even boost me to level 2 despite the fact I've been in the industry for a year.

My grandmother says I'm comparing the place to my old nursing home too much. Hey, *yes*, that is a much, much better nursing home, but even it had its own problems. Since my grandmother was giving me the old "it's money" line, I rang up Mum and had a chat. She said go with your gut, apply somewhere else.

On the upside, I found out which nursing home is the newest and has the best facilities. I'll apply there.

Gah, this just got me so down. Time to lift myself up again and take a zoloft.

little request

2008-03-13T16:16:52Z

Do me a favour, all? Please go over and vote @ lantis_lims. I want the participants to receive a wide amount of feedback :). Thank you!

Btw, for those interested in Round 4, I've decided we'll have a break of around a month (or so - let's not get anything set in concrete) once R3 concludes. This is so I can prepare in advance and we can all have a rest :).

You'll, of course, see the return of the feedback survey at the end of R3 in case you have something to say about the round :).

This is why I never get nice things

2008-03-12T12:59:25Z

Hobbies. Hobbies. Hobbies.

With all this work/study combination I'm planning (I stress, *planning* ;)) to do, I figure I should get myself another hobby (other than reading McKay/Sheppard slash or iconmaking, of course :p). I've always wanted to do tap dancing (I once enrolled when I was little, but I wasn't happy I didn't get a pink uniform - oh, gee), guitar lessons (I have the guitar), shooting, archery, and horse riding.

I'm leaning toward horse riding and archery or shooting. Hmm, it seems I either want to throw myself around on a horse or shoot things.

Oh, man, can't decide. Does anyone do any of the above?

Btw: went to orientation, start work Friday on a buddy shift. Everything is done in a *completely* different way to what I was taught. Am grumpy about it, actually.