heh, just found this place again. Can't believe how much time I used to spend on this site. Thought I'd post a "blog", not that I actually have anything to say, or anyone to say it to. Well, ciao for now 8)

Yup, some "girl" PM'd me, asking me to go to some other site. I'm pretty sure I've read that "message" in other places, so it's almost certainly not a real person. There's no way I'm going to that site, it'll probably give me a virus or some other nasties.

I'm sure some other people got a similar message (or more likely, the exact same message).

Yeah, it's going to take some getting used to. Also, I wish you could choose which emblems are on display, rather than just the top ones, because I have nicer looking emblems to show off! I don't like it that much, but it's probably just because I'm used to the old style.

I'm not the most creative guy, so abluescarab offered to make me a banner.

I asked for an oddworld-themed one, and I think it turned out great.

So thanks again abluescarab!:D

At last! I was eagerly awaiting the emblem for the 3 big conferences. At last I have recieved it! Admitidly, my time on Gamespot has decreased as of late, but still, I wanted that dang emblem!

At least that's what the people at HMV think.

Yep, I was working there for a while, and I learned some quite shocking secrets. The so called "security tags" they put on CDs, aren't the same on every CD. On pretty much any CD, they just put a sticker round it saying "security protected" just for show. It's just a sticker to ward of shoplifters. The Rap, RnB and hip-hop CD's however, are what the manager calls "high risk", so they have real security tags on them. Is this racist? Only putting security tags on the music by primarilly black artists? Or perhaps they think that only a person who listens to this kind of music, would be dumb enough to try and steal a CD with a security tag on it? Nah, it's probably just because they really do get stolen more often. But somehow, I don't think everyone would see it that way.

As a helpful demonstration, I've provided three CD covers. Scroll over them to see the HMV managers reaction when you pick it up.

Actually, no. I was going to provide a wonderful visual aide, but Gamespot is such a stupid, sucky piece of suck, that it just F's up on me all the time. It was gonna be real cool, too.:cry:

Welcome to the second edition of "Tommo's people". The first edition was that magnificent guy. Did I not mention that? anyway...

André Kertész (July 2, 1894 - September 28, 1985), born Kertész Andor, was a Hungarian-born photographer known for his groundbreaking contributions to photographic composition and by his efforts in establishing and developing the photo essay. In the early years of his lengthy career, his then-unorthodox camera angles, and his unwillingness to compromise his personal photographic **** (yep, that's a naughty word right there. Here's a hint, you go to these at school- ed) prevented his work from gaining wider recognition. Even towards the end of his life, Kertész did not feel he had gained the worldwide recognition he deserved. He is recognized today as one of the seminal figures of photojournalism, if not photography as a whole.

Expected by his family to work as a stock broker, Kertész was a photographic autodidact and his early work was mostly published in magazines. This continued until much later in his life when he stopped accepting commissions. He served briefly in World War I and moved to Paris in 1925, against the wishes of his family. There he was involved in the artistic melting pot of immigrants and the Dada movement, and achieved critical and commercial success. The imminent threat of World War II pushed him to emigrate again to the United States, where he had a more difficult life and needed to rebuild his reputation through commissioned work. He took offense with several editors, who he felt did not recognize his work. In the 1940s and 1950s he stopped working for magazines and began to achieve greater international success. Despite the numerous awards he collected over the years, he still felt unrecognized, a sentiment which did not change even at the time of his death. His career is generally divided into four periods based on where his work was most prominent at these times. They are called the Hungarian period, the French period, the American period and, towards the end of his life, the International period.

Overall, that guy sounds like a bit of an I-hole. But the final opinion, is yours to make. That's it for now. If you'd like to learn more about Mr Kertesz, Wikipedia recommends this great book!

Greenough, Sarah; Robert Gurbo & Sarah Kennel (2005). André Kertész. Princeton: Princeton University Press.

Quite a long title for a book isn't it?

NOBODY expects the Spanish

Inquisition!!!

Amongst their weaponry are such diverse elements as fear, surprise, ruthless efficiency, an almost fanatical devotion to the Pope, and nice red uniforms!

Bring on the Comfy Chair!:twisted:

You could never know what its like. Your blood like winter freezes just like ice, and theres a cold lonely light that shines from you. You'll wind up like the wreck you hide behind that mask you use. And did you think this fool could never win? Well look at me, I'm coming back again. I got a taste of love in a simple way, and if you need to know while Im still standing, you just fade away. Don't you know I'm still standing better than I ever did. Looking like a true survivor, feeling like a little kid. I'm still standing after all this time. Picking up the pieces of my life without you on my mind. I'm still standing, yeah yeah yeah. I'm still standing, yeah yeah yeah. Once I never could hope to win. You starting down the road leaving me again. The threats you made were meant to cut me down, and if our love was just a circus you'd be a clown by now.

Suleiman the Magnificent was the tenth and longest-reigning Sultan of the Ottoman Empire, ruling from 1520 to 1566. Suleiman became the pre-eminent monarch of 16th century Europe, presiding over the apogee of the Ottoman Empire's military, political and economic power. Suleiman personally led Ottoman armies to conquer the Christian strongholds of Belgrade, Rhodes, and most of Hungary before his conquests were checked at the Siege of Vienna in 1529. He annexed most of the Middle East in his conflict with the Persians and large swathes of North Africa as far west as Algeria. Under his rule, the Ottoman fleet dominated the seas from the Mediterranean to the Indian Ocean. At the helm of an expanding empire, Suleiman personally instituted legislative changes relating to society, education, taxation and criminal law. His canonical law fixed the form of the empire for centuries after his death. Not only was Suleiman a distinguished poet and goldsmith in his own right; he also became a great patron of culture, overseeing the golden age of the Ottoman Empire's artistic, literary and architectural development. In a break with Ottoman tradition, Suleiman married a harem girl who became Hurrem Sultan, whose intrigues in the court and power over the Sultan have become as famous as Suleiman himself. Their son, Selim II, succeeded Suleiman following his death in 1566 after 46 years of rule.