The Kraig

Well, Queen's Park are really Hibsing it so far. Lost 4-3 to Partick at Firhill, which is more of a home stadium than our current home at Stenhousemuir (Lesser Hampden's still getting redeveloped).

On 06/05/2023 at 20:57, Lineker said:

Bloody hell Dundee.

Was following along at work with the goals, what a rollercoaster. 😢 Playoff time against Partick, which we should win, but now I expect it all the fall apart.

2 hours ago, Twist said:

One of these teams is not like the others.

Well, yeah, Real are Spanish.

Real getting to the final by beating Celtic, Liverpool, Chelsea AND Man City would be pretty fun viewing.

6 minutes ago, Benji said:

Honestly, XY is a good place to end it. I watched Alola and it was not good at all, it felt like a cheap knock off of Pokémon. Started Journeys but it didn't do much for me but at some point I'll grind through it for completion.

That'a the Pokémon spirit! That's how I feel finishing Violet.

On 25/03/2023 at 07:56, Benji said:

I love how they turned what seemed like such a bittersweet moment into a really upbeat and exciting "let's see what the future holds" with a simple musical cue. Been watching the anime since it first aired on ITV over here, and I've left it and then caught up a few times. I'm dreading finally going back and closing that chapter because there's so many life memories tied to me for Pokémon in the same way I have them tied to wrestling. Saying goodbye to fictional characters shouldn't be as hard as I find it

I don't mind saying I'm way behind, but I had various bingewatches when I was a student (Voyager, Sherlock, Game of Thrones) and that included Pokémon from the beginning all the way through to I think the end of the XY series.

That's when I thought they might end it, since Ash seemed competent and I found myself actually watching instead of just listening to it in the background.

Then the Alola stuff dropped and it looked pretty awful, which was a shame since I loved the Alola games. Maybe I should pick the anime back up and finish the entire series when the English dub shows up.

From the weird way they did the Galar region and introduced Pokémon Go to the anime I'd never have guessed they would be wrapping things up. Then all these old characters were apparently showing up and it seemed kinda obvious they were building to something.

Well done to the writers, actors and animators for keeping such a weird force of nature alive for so long. These long tenure animes really blow my mind, especially since it's not as simple as point and shoot, there's the big creative process.

There is something great about such an epic journey with huge milestones and memories where the protagonist travels the world extensively, and yet never ages. Ash is a paradox.

*notices connection to Scarlet/Violet paradoxes*

9 hours ago, FestiveJack said:

Scotland's goat tbh 

To be fair, we did name the country after him.

1 hour ago, fourstarfizzle said:

I know it's a different code but it's the only rugby post we have, I've just spent the last 8 days in Australia going to 4 NRL games to tick off a childhood bucket list item. I was spoilt for quality with games, but the highlight was probably Parramatta Vs Penrith, a repeat of last year's grand final. Parramatta is still looking for their first win of the season, Penrith with some absolute quality (including a 45-metre drop goal) and it was a fantastic game for the neutral like me.

 

  Hide contents

 

 

That drop goal was magical!

7 hours ago, Colly said:

This is going to be rambling and miles away from the Laws of the Game, but I felt a bit sorry for Willian. It's absolutely a handball and a penalty, but the red card feels really double jeopardy when his arm is only really going up because his knee is as part of the attempt to block the ball legally? Like I don't think it actually is a deliberate handball, but not to the extent of it not being a penalty. Which makes no sense so leave me to my thoughts...

Seems mean.

 

Nah, definitely not intentional, but he lies after the fact trying to say it his his mid-riff. Silva interrupting the VAR check and Mitrovic being an idiot really sealed that for United. Can't believe Mitrovic, they were still in the game even with 10-men and no manager.

On 16/05/2022 at 02:45, The Kraig said:

IT'S DONE! A penalty in extra time has us end 3-2 on aggregate, Queen's Park are off to the Scottish Championship! Back to back promotions!  

So, much to my disbelief and joy, Queen's Park are top of the Championship this season, even after selling key player Simon Murray to Ross County in the winter break. They're 7 points ahead of Dundee with 6 games to go. Their final game is against Dundee so this is getting really interesting. Even if they throw it away, the play-offs paid off for us last season.

For those unaware, Queen's Park are the oldest club in Scotland, and if they get promoted it will be their first time back in the top tier of Scottish football since 1958. They've only been a professional club for 3 years and if they win the Championship it makes it 3 promotions in 3 years.

I only started supporting QP because they were the closest team to my flat at the time and I was sick of all the sectarian pish with Rangers and Celtic, then got sucked in to the history of the club, the links to the national team and the birth of international football, Scotch Professors who took the passing game to England, etc, etc. I was quite content supporting the little amateur club who always did decent despite being in a professional league. Now I'm just gutted I can't watch the game in person since I emigrated.

I feel like I'm living in a Football Manager game. And we're about to get spanked in the Premiership.

Oh yeah, Celtic are pretty much Premiership champions again, but who cares about that.

12 hours ago, FestiveJack said:

This feels very harsh

 

Steward's thrown himself sideways, almost elbowing him in the face? He is protecting himself at the expense of the player he should be tackling, for me it's a clear red. Really fucked the game though.

In other news, what a lovely try. Duhan has really changed the Scotland team for the better.

2 hours ago, GoGo Yubari said:

UPDATE: Violette AC had so many VISA issues that they had to sign players from an NPSL team on loan. Even with that they had only three players on the bench, and had to rely on their backup keeper.

In spite of that, they held Austin FC to only two goals meaning they have advanced on aggregate. CCL rules.

This is fucking hilarious, why are Haiti and Haitiens always involved in such magnificent football trivia?

Violette have not been regularly playing for months due to unrest in Haiti. Everyone say it with me now...what a cupset.

We are just living in Erling's world. I can't recall being so personally invested in an attacking player since Ronaldo. Beyond club football, can't wait to see him lead Norway to a big tournament.

I've had a bad habit of dropping games before I finish the post-game now. It just feels like such a non-challenge and I can't be bothered. Anyone else getting this lately? Gonna try to fully finish off Arceus Legends, Sword/Shield DLC and Violet.

I've also been looking into fab-made/hacks since it seems a few have actually been finished! Anyone got any personal recommendations?

As someone who knows players from the Glasgow Galaxy and Glasgow Comets baseball teams, not a single one has mentioned the GB team. Maybe that will change. Or we'll just roll our eyes and start a Scotland team. 

I came in here to share this...I had no idea it happened. Stoke, Wolves, Shamrock Rovers, Dundee United, Cagliari, et al...in the same league. In the United States. With silly new names. In 1966. What.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Soccer_Association

I'll accept that light smashing. Ireland have been so good and consistent. Here's hoping England show up. Hogg getting 100 caps is a hell of an achievement. Probably the best player I've ever seen play live.

Since I'm in Kiwiland, I've begun planning Lions and World Cup excursions in Australia and I can't recall being this excited for rugby in my life.

I'm kind of gutted to be in NZ for the rest of this, because damn...this might be my favourite 6 Nations in a long time, possibly ever.

Here's hoping we don't get smashed by Ireland too hard.

On 10/02/2023 at 05:27, Your Mom said:

I'm going to have to skip this one. I just do not approve of "partially exposed buttocks"

Fully exposed or GTFO.

I'm glad I never got hyped for this or I'd be so blue-balled by now.

Anyone familiar? A patient shared this with me today and we became best friends.

10 hours ago, Salt City Saint said:

So with my tax refund after getting new tires on my car, I think I’m going to pick up a switch and one of the new Pokémon games. I imagine they’re mostly the same but do the majority here have one where the other makes sense to be a helpful member of the community?

I'd say go for Sword/Shield for the more linear story like the older games, or go Scarlet/Violet for a more open-world playthrough which may be marred by glitchy hilarity. Both still have regular player bases and you can interact with them. Sword/Shield also has some fun buyable DLC.

I'd say avoid Let's Go Pikachu/Eevee and Brilliant Diamond/Shining Pearl unless you purely want a nostalgia fix (which they might not achieve).

If you're open to something unusual, I recommend Arceus Legends. Hit my nostalgia buttons and felt open, fun and a little bit dare I say, fresh. This one is very non-community oriented though. The inventory system sucks massive Ultra Balls though.

EDIT: Oh yeah, I came here to say I just learned that the word "Nuzlocke" is a Lost reference.

On 01/03/2023 at 14:22, Shouting Box said:

Kinda related. What a wholesome message

When Jey becomes head of the table. 

I like the part where he goes like  Sssssssssmokin.

On 22/02/2023 at 19:56, Shouting Box said:

Rammstein's latest album had a similar whiplash

From fear of your fellow man

To a song about boobs

How dare you not post the official video.

Also, I have a new favourite band and can't wait to see them live. They just toured in the UK (with GWAR). All the lads in the band are Maori, so it's pretty awesome seeing Maori history in modern metal, with Maori lyrics by Maori musicians. This is back when New Zealand had a lot of wars between their own people, and how European influence affected and escalated things. Sometimes rival iwi/tribes would eat their fallen enemies to absorb their mana so the title "Kai Tangata" literally means "food" and "people". I came across this while randomly channel-flipping which just adds to my love for the band and this song in particular.

He taua, He taua! - (A war party, a war party!)

Waewae tapu takahi te ara taua - (Footsteps pound the sacred warpath)
Ka hopungia e maha nga upoko - (Many heads are sought)
Ka hopungia e maha taurekareka - (Many slaves are sought)
E mahi nga mahi a Tūmatauenga - (This is the work of Tūmatauenga)

Anei rā - (Behold)
Te uhi o Mataora - (The chisel of Mataora)
Pai tuarā - (The strong back)
Te kokongapere - (The base of the spine)
Nga rape - (The buttock spirals)
Te kitemaimairu - (The thigh)
Tatua taua - (The war belt)
Nga tā moko puhoro - (The tattooed bodies of warriors)
Anei nga tohu a Tūmatauenga - (These are the omens of war)

He pakanga nunui mo te whakautu - (A mighty battle to avenge us)
Tae mai nga tūpuna mo te whakaāwhina - (Our ancestors gather to assist us)
Kia mau nga Tohunga mo te whakakarakia - (Our priests prepare the incantations)
E mahi nga mahi a Tūmatauenga - (This is the work of Tūmatauenga)

Anei rā - (Behold)
Te uhi o Mataora - (The chisel of Mataora)
Pai tuarā - (The strong back)
Te kokongapere - (The base of the spine)
Nga rape - (The buttock spirals)
Te kitemaimairu - (The thigh)
Tatua taua - (The war belt)
Nga tā moko puhoro - (The tattooed bodies of warriors)
Anei nga tohu a Tūmatauenga - (These are the omens of war)

A Tūmatauenga x4 - (Of Tūmatauenga)
Mahi nga mahi a Tūmatauenga x4 - (This is the work of Tūmatauenga)

Whakatangi o nga pū, whakapatu nga taiaha - (The cry of guns, the blows of the taiaha)
Te kikokiko rekareka ō aku hoariri - (The sweet flesh of our enemies)
Nga umu whakakīa tātau kōpū ki te utu - (The ovens fill our bellies with revenge)
E mahi nga mahi a Tūmatauenga - (This is the work of Tūmatauenga)

Anei rā - (Behold)
Te uhi o Mataora - (The chisel of Mataora)
Pai tuarā - (The strong back)
Te kokongapere - (The base of the spine)
Nga rape - (The buttock spirals)
Te kitemaimairu - (The thigh)
Tatua taua - (The war belt)
Nga tā moko puhoro - (The tattooed bodies of warriors)
Anei nga tohu a Tūmatauenga - (These are the omens of war)

Waewae tapu takahi te ara taua - (Footsteps pound the sacred warpath) x4

On 16/02/2023 at 21:29, Pooker said:

My go to answer for this will always be the first Knights of the Old Republic. Such a great story.

On 16/02/2023 at 21:41, Benji said:

  Hide contents

I remain super pissed off that the twist was spoiled for me by a friend before I'd even left the tutorial level.

 

I had such a weird experience playing this game. I got KOTORII first and played it, loved it. Didn't really understand the references to the previous game. Played the first game after that and remained completely spoiler free. I can still remember the strange feeling that washed over me when I got to a key part. KOTOR is always that game I point to for this sort of question. Overall I prefer the KOTOR plot/s over the Lucas/Disney Star Wars stuff.

On 18/02/2023 at 14:20, tristy said:

I'm a sucker for when video games have gameplay with actual songs, so stuff like the Mausoleum battle in Halo 2 with Breaking Benjamin and riding into Mexico for the first time in Red Dead Redemption with a Jose Gonzales song playing.

Fuck. Yes. I loved that.

Completing Halo by myself for the first time was a big one. I initially didn't like it, but I hadn't got deep enough into the game world. After mission six I was absolutely hooked. I bought my friend the Master Chief Collection since they had never played Halo but loved Mass Effect. Having played through it all again, about a decade after last playing the campaigns...it all held up. So many old memories would be stirred to life. Even weapon, enemy and secret locations came back to me. We ended up playing Halo, Halo 2 and Halo 3 in-person co-op over the course of the year and it was so much fun knowing what was coming but not telling, and being able to fill in little bits along the way if anything wasn't obvious with the story.

Chrono Trigger's a game everyone needs to experience as well. Glad it's already been mentioned.

And I guess, I'd love to be able to play Pokémon again with zero knowledge.

It's not been mentioned, but I have a soft spot for Lost Odyssey and remember having several unexpected emotional experiences with that game.

And finally, the first time playing with a console online - Xbox Live and Project Gotham Racing 2. Hysterical fun with organised strangers.

Apparently he was enjoying the football at the pub before his passing.  

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-64759055