starswirlthebearded

Netflix is adding S5 of pony later this month. The first half of the season was probably an error. December 28th to be exact.

Zealot, the two step process is basically to get two sets of eyes on it. None of us are perfect and someone may see something that someone else doesn't. 

I'd like to point out that many mangaka used shared universes within their own works. And there is a company whom uses the shared universe paradigm [Clamp]. The unique thing about Marvel and DC is that they are shared universes from the start, across many different writers [similar to Clamp, and I am unsure of any other known company that might make the number equal between the two]. But really, those are the only two COMPANIES. And not all of their comics published are shared universe. Hell, they have multiple universes which don't intersect. So not all the comics are even within the same universe of the same hero or villain. And if there were then everyone in Marvel would have been killed by the Punisher (this really happened, he killed every hero and villain (himself included) in an alternate universe timeline).

Furthermore, comparing multiple different paradigms is a fools errand in the first place. Manga is very different WITHIN MANGA, Marvel is different from DC, and comparing east to west is just ridiculous. Even for cartoons they are structured differently between them.

Also, Shep, you could easily make the argument that certain story arcs ARE focused on individual heroes even within those groups. True, when they are facing the big-bad it is the team [usually] acting together. But individual villains? Not so much. Say for instance Hydra threatens the world. It will have a far greater focus on Cap, rather than the rest of the team. Will they still be involved? You are certain they will, but since that is Cap's biggest nemesis [along with the Red Skull] he has a personal vendetta with them, and thus he will be far more the focus. I remember reading Justice League comics where I was like "Wait, hold up, what are the rest of the league even doing?" This often happens with Darkseid and Superman. The rest of the League involved? Yes, but Superman almost always steals the show for the big showdown. And anyone else gets involved? Usually gets killed or defeated.

You have a strange habit of comparing, apples to oranges to grapes to bananas to kiwis. This makes everything convoluted and hard to follow [and nearly nonsensical]. Comparing huge comprehensive universes to a small contained one like MLP doesn't make sense. DBZ was in total 444 episodes [not including GT since that was post]. You had so much history and back story by the time you made it to Z there was a reason for almost everything. And as it progressed it succumb to Shonen Syndrome [main character having a power trip]. On a long enough timeline any shonen series that is action based will likely succumb to that. It is VERY rare that it doesn't. I could probably count the ones that don't on my hands. Marvel and DC have been building [and rebuilding, and tearing down and starting over and... oh hell it's messy...] for the past 70 or so years. And between them have just as many differences as similarities [mostly stemming from HOW their heroes are]. And every mangaka is different as is every publisher.

Comparing media is fine when discussing themes and tropes. But using one franchise to the next to prove or disprove validity is never going to work especially when they are so different. And for the record, yes, I would agree that as an overall medium and thematically MLP is in fact closer to Sailor Moon than anything else, that ONE fight, visually and stylistically was far closer to DBZ than Sailor Moon. Sailor Moon was VERY formulaic with their fights and none of them was anything like that fight between Twilight and Tirek. Though honestly if we really wanted a proper comparison we'd have to go to another Sentai franchise where it had a main character with a team, and that main character would be faced with a similar situation. Sailor Moon never really had that.

So if you want to create discussion between media, that's fine, but don't use your personal opinion on any of them to validate or invalidate anything. It just doesn't work out nicely. People have varying opinions. Use what you have to make a topic of discussion interesting, rather than disregarding one thing or another or making things up.

That said, I've said my peace and won't be responding any further.

The only thing this episode needed was that giant button on 7th Avenue. Good show, fellow straphanger!

GAH! I was thinking the same thing going into the episode! I'm kinda disappointed that they didn't use the famous fashion ave monument! (Also one of the best coffee shops are right there... Man... it's been too long since I've been in that area...)

For those not sure what Kirby and I are talking about... This is the aforementioned button. It seriously would have been perfect. I think the only reason they DIDN'T use it is because it wasn't as notable as Grand Central or Times Sq.

If all that is the case, then what you need is a mentor or a teacher of sorts. Either a paid teacher or a free course of some sort. Someone to get you the skills that you need to polish what you need. If theory books are too hard there are other instructional books and programs that can help as well. Once you have someone explain the concepts to you and the harder things to grasp I'm sure things will fall into place more.

And again that "Perfect practice" line, is true. I went to a meet and greet with Steve Vai, and someone asked him how he got so good at playing the intro to "Building the Church" His response was in essence "I started slow and took it note by note until I got the sound I wanted and slowly built up the speed with hours of practice every day." He even tried and failed to recreate how it first sounded when he first started practicing! (Just goes to show how much practice can impact how you play things)

And no worries, it happens. Just ask any musician who either got turned down for a residency or lost a residency. (I've seen things.... maturity is rarely a thing in that situation).

In the end, don't accept defeat, this is your instrument, make it yours. For bands you need technical ability, and a willingness to progress with the band. If you have the dedication and drive it will happen eventually, especially if you find ways to fill in the gaps of your skill set.

Alright, so you got turned down for a band spot....

I used to gig for years as a drummer (mostly sitting in for friend's bands and not actually joining any band despite being asked on multiple occasions, because it was more work than I was willing to put in and was able to at the time). And I work in a music store currently and know many more gigging musicians in bands or who work for fun or professionally in a band or multiple bands, even some as stagehands... So I'm going to impart a bit of wisdom that I have gained in my many years of being a musician and knowing musicians.

First off... Not every band will hire every musician that auditions for them. Some bands are looking for something very specific. I've been told, personally, that I wasn't right for a spot in a band despite being perfectly competent and having experience and it came down to my style not meshing with their style. Was I bummed? Sure, but in the end it was probably for the best for that band.

Likewise I've known people who weren't that good that made band spots because they worked well with the band they auditioned for. It happens and is part of the music biz.

Secondly... No band I know, nay, no musician I know will hire anyone who doesn't know the basics, and for a guitarist that is the scales and chords. LEARN THEM. I'm not sure how you never did if you have been playing for 10 years. To be honest, that boggles my mind, however, even if that is the case, you probably have at least decent fingering fretboard technique and picking technique and can probably pick those things up easily if you give a bit of effort. And if you are looking for a band they want to SEE that effort. Not knowing chords or scales shows that you don't care.

Which brings me to the last thing you need to realize about bands who wish to gig (you know the ones who are looking for a position to fill). They only want SERIOUS musicians, ones dedicated to their instrument. Clearly you are not. Please stop this pity party and choose if you want to be part of a band or not. If you do, pick up your guitar, get a chord book and scales progression book, AND LEARN THE GUITAR. If I walked into an audition for any band not knowing my rudiments I'd be laughed out the door, and it would be my fault, this is probably what happened with you. People whom are experienced can tell who has the training (or put in proper practice) and who doesn't (or hasn't), or who even has the chops to play their instrument without formal training. Unfortunately not all of us can be Frank Zappa or Jimi Hendrix. However with enough hard work you CAN become more like Steve Vai, or John Petrucci.

See what I'm getting at here is the problem isn't really people sucking.... it's you. I apologize for being blunt but you have to hear it from someone, and it might as well be another musician, one who has played at least semi-professionally and knows MANY professional musicians.

And FWIW, you don't need to learn covers to get accepted to a band, you just need to show off your chops. If you can walk into an audition and knock out a killer improv solo in the style they are looking for, will show the band more of what you are worth than playing something someone else wrote. They might ask you to learn certain songs to play that is similar in their style but they'd let you know that before your audition and give you time to prepare, and if you know how to read Tabs, for a guitarist that is immensely easy.

And always remember "Practice does not make perfect, perfect practice makes perfect." Don't blame others for your own unwillingness to properly learn your instrument, just learn your instrument and you'll eventually find a band that you can join.

Technically Discord was the villain. He planted the seeds before he was turned to stone...

On point two, if that is the case stating that ALL of the Calliopes in Equestria are in her basement is misleading. If she read about them in a book, it would be logical to assume that there are others out there and other ponies who play them.

On point three... The gala was a week longer than events usually are.

In short: Don't be a jerk.

Yeah, I'm in agreement with QL here. I wrote this blog to write my thoughts of the movie. I gave a pretty detailed analysis of the faults and strengths of the film. From the technical side to the story side. Movies that score "8" are of much higher quality, and don't fall into the tropes and cliches that this movie fall into so obviously and easily, and are far better animated (Just take a look at any other decent animated feature length film, it is a TREAT to look at, this one felt like it belonged going strait to TV). This isn't a 24 minute episode, it's a 73 minute feature length film. It shouldn't be so cliched. The plot holes were only part of the issue. The story, jokes, and pretty much everything else took a back seat to characterization. And if not for the characters being interesting, endearing and most importantly entertaining, this movie would have been closer to a 2 rather than a 6.5.

Epic ending didn't even make sense, and was a low point of the movie. In fact, if Celestia was right, all that would have happened if Sunset Shimmer succeeded is that the two words would have pretty much destroyed each other due to imbalance (that is after all why the other 5 had to stay behind after all, well either that or other things would have happened, clashing worlds is never a good thing in sci-fi). Something I didn't address because it is likely that Sunset Shimmer didn't know or perhaps care about when creating her plan. Villains tend to not think about outcomes rather than "The ends justify the means" so she was willing to take the risk of ultimate destruction. The Friendship is Magic is terribly cliched too, especially in this series (hence why I said "obligatory friendship is magic thing"). It is already cliche, it is even worse here. I totally expected it, but I probably would have enjoyed the movie more if it strayed from the standard teenbop formulaic execution and story with the super cliched ending that everyone saw coming from the second they saw the evil demon concept pictures.

If you wish to state your opinion, you can do so in your own blog or even the thread. This movie was at best OK. An above average way to sell more toys.

I think it all hinges on whether or not they see a return on the investment. I don't think they'll continue an unpopular property.

June 19th apparently. All you needed to do is add Dio into the conversation. I submitted before that too and added Dio after.

No. I'm pretty sure that didn't happen until after I submitted.

The thing is Dio was handling them this time around. If you didn't send it to him it, or add him into the PM, it was probably not posted in the voting thread.

I understand the frustration behind this process all too well. Keep your chin up and keep on trottin'!

Pish! You act like I'm all broken up about it! I'm indifferent about it! Again I wouldn't have voted for myself given my prompts! This was a good experience. Just not one that I have a need to repeat as of yet.

I applied for both Twilight and Celestia and had similar situations while I was apping, so I understand how you feel.

Didn't even get a prompt for Celestia though. I guess I just wasn't that good.

Did you resend to Dio when Helix relinquished control of applications? That might have been why.

Luckily for you the Masquerade isn't up yet!

And I too need to finish my Tia app... I'm really worried that with work and job hunting I won't have time to finish it.

Golden Retriever... I had to put mine down a few years back. It stinks! Such good dogs they are.

I'm sorry she had to go like that

Steel likes pseudointellecutal lines? Got it. I haven't heard this one since Philosophy...

There..are people on this site that don't like MLP....?

Not that I know of. I'm indifferent to the fandom though . Canterlot is the only part of the fandom I like for the most part.

Frost, so long as you aren't being vindictive or flaming using religious beliefs, the expression of religious beliefs in the right areas (18+ forums and blogs) is perfectly fine.

Just remember to uphold the foundations of Christianity and bronydom alike... Love and Tolerate.

That said I won't comment on this because well, I don't share the same beliefs. So it would be uncouth for me to do so. Carry on as you were gents!

Sure do colt!

Interesting but isn't it mixing two definitions?

Special Snowflake

Mary Sue

A special snowflake can be a mary sue. And are often times are.

Also, keep in mind this is from the perspective of an outside observer.

Yeah... That last one is pretty much the reason why I don't apply for cast characters.

However the bigger reason is kinda similar to your first question "Can I play this character well." In some cases, I feel like I could play the character just fine. Like Twilight Sparkle and Fluttershy, however, for me there is a disconnect in my mind, even me knowing that I could probably do it, I can't bring myself to do it. This is because even after 3 seasons I feel like I'd drag the character in my direction rather than the direction of the show. Which is why I don't like fanfiction. (Yeah, it is actually more of a personal aversion to putting my will on the creative spark of someone else, there are very few fics that I've read that actually felt organic with the original work, and I don't think I could replicate that with many characters)

Perhaps one day I'll do a T-3, or if Discord is put into the mix, I'll app him (along with half of Canterlot I'm sure). Honestly, Discord is the only exception because I grew up with characters like him, either Q from Star Trek TNG or Loki from Marvel or The Mask or you can even argue that Gogo Dodo was a similar type of character. I know how they think and operate. And unlike other characters, their development is more in line with what they can or can't do, rather than their overall personality. Even Discord in the most recent ep, won't likely cease screwing with Celestia just for fun (Actually I'd love to see a Spin-off series about that, but I doubt that would ever happen), but rather will tone down what he'll do in fear of reprimands or losing his only friend.

Tried the site search and the find content. Unless I misspelled it... Entirely possible I grant you. Nope, didn't misspell Iron Will just doesn't show up, and Dahlia Blossom... I apparently misspelled (I swapped the h and the l >_>)... Can't explain Iron Will though...Found the minotaur in cast list, but no app by the title of "Iron Will" o_O

Ah alright, I couldn't find it with a site search. I was wondering why she was in the RP group but I couldn't find her ponies anywhere. Iron Will brought up the minotaur app, and I couldn't find Dahlia at all :!:

Thanks for the links

And that is an odd situation... huh...

But yes, thanks for the clarification tales. Sorry for the confusion Caun. My bad