What are you currently reading/watching/etc?

I'm watching The Transformers for the first time.

I can see why it's popular even to this day, but it's also really dated.

edited 26th Jul '14 2:47:01 PM by BaconManiac5000

We were going to put The Expendables on the big screen in the ops room, but we kinda broke something...uh...oops.

So I'm reading ReportFromEngineCompany82, a book about being a fireman in 1960s New York. My copy is from the early '70s and has a handwritten message on the title page that reads: 'Remember when you were disappointed that I was neither a fireman nor a policeman?'.

I am insanely envious of American firemen. Not because their fire engines are really cool or their uniforms are way sexier than ours (and those hats are just the coolest) but because of the sense of community they have over there.

Firefighting is like a whole subculture of its own in the US. Here something like 32% of firefighters are part-timers like me and we cover about 80% of the country, just because Scotland's population is very small and very spread out, making wholetime stations in every village impractical. This means that we don't spend nearly as much time together and it seems to me that few of them consider 'firefighter' to be a major part of their identity (in contrast to yours truly, of course, who is obviously completely obsessed), considering it more to be a fun pastime that they are willing to give up if they get a new job farther from the fire station. I, on the other hand, am trying to find a nicer house for my family but am discounting anything more than a 5 minute drive from the nearest station...

They also seem to be held in fairly high regard by the public. I suspect that over here the FBU's aggression and frequent striking in the '80s and '90s has led to the public thinking of firemen as overpaid and underworked.

Still, it could be worse. The coastguard is held in such low esteem by the few people here who even know we exist that the AA (that's the Automobile Association, not the other one) were able to run an ad campaign proclaiming themselves 'the fourth emergency service' for years and nobody thought this was amiss.

And breathe...

This rambling was brought to you by the numbers dizziness and hunger and the letter sleep deprivation.

I'm reading "Quite Contrary", by Richard Roberts. The same guy who wrote "Please Don't tell my Parent's I'm a Super Villain". It's a bit harder to get into but I still like it.

Reading: Gunnerkrigg Court

Today I finished Blue Mars.

The Mars trilogy as a whole has been quite impressive, if a bit on the poetic side. It's an epic in the traditional sense, with some superb worldbuilding.

Listening to Mandatory Fun.

edited 29th Jul '14 10:17:23 PM by DaftPunch

I've started reading C. S. Lewis's Mere Christianity.

Gravity Falls, and when that's not on I'm watching Dai Guard.

Yes, I've already watched Dai Guard, but still.

Watching: Cowboy Bebop which is just as awesome as I hoped it to be.

Reading American Gods.

I'm reading Dexter is Delicious. I haven't seen the TV series.

Been on a bit of a Nasuverse binge lately, so I decided to watch Carnival Phantasm. The Fifth Holy Grail War as a game show, Akiha apparently being into incest, Berserker being sent to buy batteries...this show has already gotten some solid laughs out of me, and I hope it keeps it up.

Reading Quite Contrary, by Richard Roberts. One thing's for sure, this ain't your grandad's Little Red Riding Hood, or even your dad's. It's a really good book but it's so not for everyone. Or maybe it is. I'm not really sure on that...

Thing is, I know for a fact that there are folks who will hate this as much as I hate the idea of Fifty Shades of Grey, with far less reason.

Reading: ''The Basic Kafka'' next story up is The Hunger Artist

Listening: Mark Schauss's Russian Rulers History Podcasts and Mike Duncan's Revolutions Podcast

Watching: Kamen Rider Ryuki

Does only fiction count?

I would assume not.

Nope. Fire on in with your factual watching/reading/listening stuff.

On that note, I've been reading this:

http://www.thegunzone.com/11april86b.html

It's about the famous so-called Miami shootout the FBI had with two really bad bad guys in 1986. Reads like a Hollywood movie, and indeed was the basis of one, but it's true stuff.

Non-fiction: Fat Chick Works Out, which is a size-positive and gentle exercise guide

Fiction: Bet Me, which is, well, a romance novel (embarrassed smile). Hey, everyone has a bad day sometimes!

Watching: Star Trek TOS, going through it rather slowly. The last episode I watched was Court Martial

I just finished reading A Game Of Thrones, so naturally I'm following up with the next book in the series, A Clash of Kings. But I'm also reading a book about Guided by Voices called A Brief History: Twenty-One Years of Hunting Accidents in the Forests of Rock and Roll.

I've gotten to doing movie "theme weeks" on my own. Last week was concert films, and I ended up watching Soul To Soul ^note Documentary/concert film about American soul artists playing a festival in Ghana in 1971, ''The Kids Are Alright'', a "double feature" of Live! Tonight! Sold Out and Unplugged In New York. I guess I'm making this week Anime - Last night I watched Castle In The Sky, tonight I plan on Spirited Away, and then whatever else is down to whatever is on netflix that looks decent, because I don't own all that much anime.

Playing: Castle Crashers

It's a heap of fun, and I'm hunting for anyone else with a Steam copy. We can have a party.

Reading: The Silmarilion. And at a snail's pace. As in, ten pages per two days slow.

Also reading: Dragon Ball. I made it to Buu, and I'm almost done with the whole manga.

edited 21st Aug '14 12:15:09 AM by mrsunshinesprinkles

Just finished Read or Die. It actually was quite good, although the ending of the TV show felt pretty contrived and I felt there were a variety of ways it could have been improved. The animation (both Deen's and JC Staff's) was decent for its vintage, and the characters were great (deserving of better writing than they got, I think).

Next up is Zettai Bouei Leviathan. I'm not expecting much from it. I'm mostly just watching it as part of my quota of recently released anime and to see what Gonzo has been up to since 2008. Also, cute monster girls.

The fiance and I started watching Sword Art Online a couple days ago and are on Episode 22 of 25 of Season 1 already lol. That one hits you in the feels And I am reading The Trafalgar Gambit which is book 3 of the Ark Royal series. I am reading that on my phones Kindle App.

edited 22nd Aug '14 10:52:18 PM by RainbowMatt

Watching: Speed Grapher

Playing: Godville ("playing") and just finished don't take it personally babe it just aint your story

I have a lot to say about that second one but I dont think T Vtropes has a place to express your feelings when authors make you feel uncomfortable.

Reading: Rule 34 (the novel)

edited 22nd Aug '14 11:25:10 PM by Stormthorn

Watching a let's play of Alan Wake on youtube. I like the plot, setting and atmosphere, but the gameplay itself is not my cup of tea (yes, I am lousy with targeting) and it is fairly linear anyway, so I thought I wouldn't miss anything if I just watch it as a movie.

I wouldn't call it a horror game exactly. It is way too hopeful for that. Which is why I do like it.

Watching Shingeki No Kyojin... This is so boss.