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Messages - Arantor
5056
Features / Re: Selectbox
« on January 18th, 2012, 06:20 PM »
Mostly the latter :(
It's simply that there's so much stuff to it I don't think I can grasp all that's required to make it work properly or all the consequences of the changes that are being discussed.
I much prefer simpler stuff like DB optimisation and plugin management...
It's simply that there's so much stuff to it I don't think I can grasp all that's required to make it work properly or all the consequences of the changes that are being discussed.
I much prefer simpler stuff like DB optimisation and plugin management...
5057
Features / Re: Selectbox
« on January 18th, 2012, 05:22 PM »
Reading, yes, following... that's another question entirely. I hate to say it but a lot of this lately has just gone over my head :(
5058
Plugins / Re: I just had a sad thought.
« on January 18th, 2012, 01:39 PM »
Yup. Like I said, I don't really see the point.
5059
Plugins / Re: I just had a sad thought.
« on January 18th, 2012, 12:41 PM »
So when, exactly, would you want or need to do that? I guess someone could write a parser, it'll probably end up being me.
The only use case I can see is for someone like me who will be reviewing plugins and where it would be useful to see the queries it'll be running - but I don't see why it would be necessary or even that useful otherwise.
The only use case I can see is for someone like me who will be reviewing plugins and where it would be useful to see the queries it'll be running - but I don't see why it would be necessary or even that useful otherwise.
5060
Off-topic / Re: Doctor Who
« on January 17th, 2012, 05:53 PM »
It could be Moffat goofing off, but it's also possible that it's something devious like a relative, not necessarily the obvious. Certainly the amount of attention Myles is getting would indicate she's going to be part of *something*.
It also wouldn't be the first in Who history for a character to have been played by an actor then the same actor goes on to be a different, more major character... Lalla Ward (Romana II) was a character in the previous season, heck even Colin Baker (Six) had been a minor character in one of Five's stories.
This also need not be an old-school thing... Freema Agyeman (Martha Jones) was also in season 2's two part finale, where she is working at Torchwood One in London, and is killed just before the Battle of Canary Wharf begins. It was subsequently subsumed into her character's background when Martha was written that her previous part was a cousin (to explain the "similar face" aspect)
It also wouldn't be the first in Who history for a character to have been played by an actor then the same actor goes on to be a different, more major character... Lalla Ward (Romana II) was a character in the previous season, heck even Colin Baker (Six) had been a minor character in one of Five's stories.
This also need not be an old-school thing... Freema Agyeman (Martha Jones) was also in season 2's two part finale, where she is working at Torchwood One in London, and is killed just before the Battle of Canary Wharf begins. It was subsequently subsumed into her character's background when Martha was written that her previous part was a cousin (to explain the "similar face" aspect)
5061
Off-topic / Re: Doctor Who
« on January 17th, 2012, 11:53 AM »
Ah, see, I'd read all the stories long before I saw any adaptations onto the big or small screen, so the Falls association made sense to me perfectly.Quote Oh, it is. The way the ending is played out is awesome, in particular, but the whole thing works pretty well. It's also curious to actually observe the way the two different writers explore facets of what is essentially the same character in two very different - but somehow oddly familiar - settings.Quote It wasn't meant for the viewer at all, it was meant for the characters and their universe. It wasn't just about putting a seed of doubt into Watson (who, by the close, in his own mind doesn't have any doubts at all, he KNOWS what he saw, and even before that when he confronts Mycroft over it, you know at that point, he doesn't have any real doubt), but it was about undermining Sherlock in everyone else. It is a credible backstory in the confines of their universe as to how Sherlock could theoretically have stage managed it.
You see, for Moriarty to just come out with 'Sherlock managed it' doesn't stand up for a moment, but it would stand up if 'Moriarty' were a piece of fiction that could conceivably have been created in the context of the 'Sherlock managed it' scenario.
The only issue I had with it is that Watson and Mycroft both know the truth but have no way to clear Sherlock's name. There are ways that the government can intervene on such things, and have done.
With the dossier... he certainly cooked that up, but not with her help; it was after all part of the game to manipulate her too, and that's exactly what he did. But given how he managed to get into the places he did, I'm fairly certain that he would have the ability to create a new identity for himself should he wish to. The thing is, his ego wouldn't allow him to go too far in sustaining such an alternate identity (remember, when he was working in the hospital, he was *Jim* from IT, not any other name)
Though there wasn't nearly enough paperwork there to imply a true second identity, no bills, no birth certificate etc. though I have no doubt Moriarty could have produced them when needed.Quote Hahah, though I've not seen Homeland either. Mind you, I find that as much as I like engaging drama (and there's not enough of it), I do like less brain-aching TV... just before Christmas I'd gotten into watching reruns of Angel (the BtVS spinoff) though due to the Christmas break I managed to miss half a season and promptly gave up trying to figure out what was going on, so I'll just grab that on DVD sometime and rewatch it that way.
Sounds cool to me, still
Oh -- and I think the Richard Brook story was not meant for the viewer (unless suddenly Moffat decided to go for the easy hollywood-type twists?!), I think it was there to plant the seed of doubt into Watson.
You see, for Moriarty to just come out with 'Sherlock managed it' doesn't stand up for a moment, but it would stand up if 'Moriarty' were a piece of fiction that could conceivably have been created in the context of the 'Sherlock managed it' scenario.
The only issue I had with it is that Watson and Mycroft both know the truth but have no way to clear Sherlock's name. There are ways that the government can intervene on such things, and have done.
With the dossier... he certainly cooked that up, but not with her help; it was after all part of the game to manipulate her too, and that's exactly what he did. But given how he managed to get into the places he did, I'm fairly certain that he would have the ability to create a new identity for himself should he wish to. The thing is, his ego wouldn't allow him to go too far in sustaining such an alternate identity (remember, when he was working in the hospital, he was *Jim* from IT, not any other name)
Though there wasn't nearly enough paperwork there to imply a true second identity, no bills, no birth certificate etc. though I have no doubt Moriarty could have produced them when needed.
Homeland...? That was a pretty smart show.
And Steins;Gate, by far, but I've already mentioned it too much
5062
Off-topic / Re: Doctor Who
« on January 17th, 2012, 10:41 AM »
Once it was announced (rather publicly) that A Game of Shadows featured Moriarty in an active role, it was not surprising that the final scenes would be the battle over the falls. And, given that it's Hollywoodised, would you really expect anything less? Though, to be fair, it is done very amusingly. (Heck, I'll be buying the DVD when it comes out.)
Re spoiler: you're probably right, just hadn't occurred to me like that.
(click to show/hide)
This is what good TV drama is about. It gets you pumped as you watch it unfold. DW and Sherlock are the only two dramas I've seen in a while where I've not only become emotionally invested in the characters and spent time picking away at it.
I haven't done that in CSI or NCIS or anything else I've watched in a long time, at least nothing comes to mind where I've done that.
Re spoiler: you're probably right, just hadn't occurred to me like that.
I'm not, really. Moriarty expressed that he did what he did because it was all a big game, and once he'd beaten Sherlock, what else was there for him to do? When you're at that level of intellect, you're already half way on the train to crazy town anyway... so hardly surprising that he'd be like that.Quote I'm more surprised, actually, by the level of madness that Moriarty showed. That he's prepared to kill himself just to 'win' this confrontation is a tad unbelievable. The actor was pretty excellent, like last year.
Mind you, after the first confrontation in 1x03 it wasn't really surprising that he'd be cuckoo, I mean...
Sherlock: People have died.
Moriarty: That's what people DO! (you can already see he's a bit unhinged in how this comes out)
Moriarty: Sorry... I'm just a bit... changeable!
Sherlock: Catch... you... later.
Moriarty: ... no you won't!
That, and when he's sat in the chair in Baker Street, and espousing how every fairytale needs a good villain, that cheeky little grin he makes is one that bad novelists will insist is 'dancing with insanity'.
So yeah, the insanity aspect is set up long before he pulls that trigger - and remember, in his mind, he's beaten the only man that could have stopped him, and he's not merely beaten him... to him, he has done precisely what he promised he'd do: he's burned Sherlock, the very heart out of him by unravelling everything he stood for.
This is what good TV drama is about. It gets you pumped as you watch it unfold. DW and Sherlock are the only two dramas I've seen in a while where I've not only become emotionally invested in the characters and spent time picking away at it.
I haven't done that in CSI or NCIS or anything else I've watched in a long time, at least nothing comes to mind where I've done that.
5063
Plugins / Re: I just had a sad thought.
« on January 16th, 2012, 06:20 PM »
I built the plugin manager so I'd be able to write my own extensible plugins, and so that I wouldn't have to contend with dealing with the crap that goes with editing files in mods.
5064
Plugins / Re: I just had a sad thought.
« on January 16th, 2012, 05:16 PM »
If only it would stop there, which sadly it won't.
Q: But what happens if I have to do a manual install?
A: You don't.
Q: But...
A: Look, if you're so desperate to manually install, download the plugin to your computer, unpack the zip, upload it to a new folder inside Plugins/ and just visit the plugin page.
Q: But what about theme edits on my custom themes?
A: The plugin manager can't make custom theme edits. No parsing required.
Q: But what about edits that conflict?
A: The plugin manager can't make file edits. No parsing required.
Q: But isn't that a bit limited?
A: It's the lesser of two evils, you can either have a system that's infinitely flexible and by result, infinitely fragile, or something more strict and more reliable, can't have it both ways.
I've had similar conversations with people, long since became too cynical to assume people were smart any more. Now I assume they're too dumb to tie their own shoelaces until they show me otherwise.
Q: But what happens if I have to do a manual install?
A: You don't.
Q: But...
A: Look, if you're so desperate to manually install, download the plugin to your computer, unpack the zip, upload it to a new folder inside Plugins/ and just visit the plugin page.
Q: But what about theme edits on my custom themes?
A: The plugin manager can't make custom theme edits. No parsing required.
Q: But what about edits that conflict?
A: The plugin manager can't make file edits. No parsing required.
Q: But isn't that a bit limited?
A: It's the lesser of two evils, you can either have a system that's infinitely flexible and by result, infinitely fragile, or something more strict and more reliable, can't have it both ways.
I've had similar conversations with people, long since became too cynical to assume people were smart any more. Now I assume they're too dumb to tie their own shoelaces until they show me otherwise.
5065
Plugins / Re: I just had a sad thought.
« on January 16th, 2012, 04:00 PM »Me too. But I'm more optimistic.
I'm at the dentist though right now. Have to be optimistic.
Ban them.
5066
Plugins / I just had a sad thought.
« on January 16th, 2012, 03:41 PM »
In an attempt to get back into PHP/Wedge coding, I'm tackling a smallish mod, at least I think it's a smallish mod. Certainly the two different mods on sm.org that do it aren't very big (though I have my own definition of 'big')
Now, both have their own setup code to add DB stuff and file edits and stuff... and I just suddenly realised that no matter how good our plugin manager is, folks coming from SMF are still going to ask how they parse mods to do installs >_<
Even though the very concept doesn't work on any level, it's still going to come up, probably quite a few times, and that makes me sad.
Remember: asking stupid, obsolete questions makes Arantor cry.
Now, both have their own setup code to add DB stuff and file edits and stuff... and I just suddenly realised that no matter how good our plugin manager is, folks coming from SMF are still going to ask how they parse mods to do installs >_<
Even though the very concept doesn't work on any level, it's still going to come up, probably quite a few times, and that makes me sad.
Remember: asking stupid, obsolete questions makes Arantor cry.
5067
Features / Re: Post moderation
« on January 16th, 2012, 08:35 AM »
Admins, yes, global mods... maybe. Global mods don't have to be global, it's only implied, not enforced. They are by default, but beyond that, no guarantee.
5068
Features / Re: Post moderation
« on January 15th, 2012, 11:59 PM »One thing that might be a good idea... How about showing, in the main menu (Admin section), the number of reported posts waiting to be read? And the number of posts and files requiring approval...
As for number of things requiring approval, these are actually not cumulatively tracked, only on a per-board basis (in the board/topic themselves IIRC) and that would otherwise entail a query to get that. Thing is, you can't just have a site-wide count because it won't always be site-wide. Not all sites have all their boards open to all staff, and a moderated post in a very private board wouldn't necessarily be available to more regular moderators.
5069
Off-topic / Re: Doctor Who
« on January 15th, 2012, 11:54 PM »
Ah, but I have since watched it and have duly noted the correction to timeline; Darillium is still the last time River meets the Doctor before FotD, but it definitely isn't the first time they met, meaning that FotD explains it wrong. Or River lies.
In other Moffaty news, Sherlock 2x03.
Considering it's not a Moffat story, there are Moffaty overtones.
On the plot...
(click to show/hide)
On the final confrontation/ending...
(click to show/hide)
Other thoughts...
(click to show/hide)
In other Moffaty news, Sherlock 2x03.
Considering it's not a Moffat story, there are Moffaty overtones.
On the plot...
It's a bit weaksauce in places. Whereas in the earlier stories, it's been pivotal to everything (that all the events are part of the plot & character development all in one, the plot is basically a vehicle for pushing Moriaty and Holmes together like two titans clashing.
The mid point with the alternate identity... threw me for a loop but it was also the weakest point for me. It's almost as though it was needed for the characters to believe in the whole Holmes-fraud thing, rather than the viewer to get the dramatic irony. A touch overdone but still well presented. The actor who plays Moriarty does it so brilliantly at that point.
On the final confrontation/ending...
Three things about the final confrontation that occur. Firstly, if ever there were any point to demonstrating Cumberbatch's skill at how well he'd be the Doctor, this is it. The showdown and the way he does it... bravo.
Secondly, for not being a Moffat story, it felt like a Moffat ending, in particular the whole 'got too big for his boots' theme that's also in Wedding of River Song struck home for me.
Lastly, while we have to wait for 3x01 to see how the fuck he got out of that one, it was obvious that he was going to, and after watching it, I'm still not sure just how far ahead of Moriarty he actually was, though you're meant to think he's figured *everything* out. He was obviously prepared to jump, but the fact that he jumped without obviously clearing his name... as far as we know? Seemed a leap too far. Holmes is the sort of person I'd have expected to have been recording the entire conversation with Moriarty, even broadcasting it to Lestrade & co, but it seems he didn't. I'm also getting a sense of 'Sherlock lies', much as the Doctor lies >_<, much of the 'too big for his boots' thing again... because you just know that next time, he's going to come back, clear his name and all will be well with the world again.
Other thoughts...
Also, in the graveside scene, when Watson is shown reflected in the headstone, I was expecting Holmes to stride up behind him etc. because that's the sort of thing Moffat would have done (if only because it's the sort of thing the Doctor does, bah!) and it makes for great tension, but of course he's laying lower than that.
In a way I'd almost have preferred the way Conan Doyle did it originally to have been done here - that he's actually dead and that 3x01 reveals he isn't, rather than the reveal being done here. Though it wasn't as blatant (or, to be fair, amusing) as it was done in A Game of Shadows.
All in all, a very well done episode, weaker in the middle, but IMO better than Baskerville last week. Also note Gatiss' performance here is more human as Mycroft than we normally see of him, it's quite nice in a way.
5070
Off-topic / Re: Doctor Who
« on January 15th, 2012, 09:41 PM »That wasn't the first time they met was it, from her POV?
Though, if I'm honest, everything in season 6 undermines the whole statement River makes in FotD about the way she first meets him (him turning up on her doorstep, knowing everything about her) because it's very clear she knows who he is before that happens, as though she's always known.
If anything, I'd argue that FotD is the incongruity.
She had the screwdriver in the Forest of the Dead/Silence in the Library, but she didn't have it on the Byzantium.
* Melody Pond is born in the 51st Century under the watch of the Silents
* Melody is sent back to 20th/21st Century Earth to find the Doctor, but for whatever reason is injured and regenerates for the first time after speaking to the President.[1]
* Melody then ends up in Ledworth with Amy and Rory and grows up as their 'best' friend.
* She goes back with them to 1938 in the attempt to kill Hitler.
* At this point, she regenerates multiple times in saving the Doctor's life.
* The Doctor and gang drop her off on New New Earth in the 51st Century, unconscious, and tell the nurse that she is 'River Song', and leave her the diary.
* River Song becomes a doctor.
* River Song kills the Doctor (twice, once in each timeline) and goes to Stormcage.
* The Pandorica opens, universe reboots.
* The Byzantium.
* She visits Amy and Rory to tell them that the Doctor isn't dead.
* At some point she is presumably pardoned because she's not visiting the Library as a prisoner, and she is now a Professor, not a Doctor.
* They visit the Library and she dies.
Her actions in Impossible Astronaut suggest that it's later in her timeline but presumably it's early enough that she hasn't been to the Pandorica yet.
* Lurker is confused, it's almost as complicated as the Zelda timeline.
| 1. | This part is still not entirely clear, after watching it more than once. |