Sort of back after my last hiatus

I dunno if the wonderful people I used to talk to on here still use the forum, but if you know me and are glad to have me back on again HELLO!!! and if you are new here, or just didn't know me from last time, HELLO PLEASED TO MEET YOU !!!

I was on here last year I think, its hard to keep track of the time, so I'll just get you all up to speed on whats been going on.

I'm Jaz, or Jae, I have a few other nicknames, but you guys can use either, a Halo Fan (Ovc!!!) building armour.

So last year, my health took a bad turn, I was diagnosed with a bone disorder 3 years ago and it got progressively worse the harder I tried to get better, it was diagnosed as incurable but not life threatening (At least it wasn't if I took care and monitored myself)

Anyhow, I got so ill I had to suspend working on armour just to struggle through a year in college. At the end of December I recieved the best, most wonderful and unexpected gift imaginable, after seeing I specialist I was rediagnosed and my condition was changed to a less severe form of the condition. It was good, since I'd been getting stronger over the months anyway.

So now, now that its 2013, I'm starting a new kind of therapy so that I can learn to use my hands and fingers properly again, hopefully I'll be able to write again! and well I don't know what to expect but its very good news. Once Im a little used to the new therapy I hope to resume making my armour which is sitting pride of place on the mannequin in my room.

Well thats really it on the health front, I don't expect to be miracle cured, that will never happen, but thi new therapy hopes to make me and my body adjust and accomodate my condition so I can function like a normal person, the best news is, I am no longer terrified that I will inevitably end up in a wheelchair, that won't happen with my less severe condition, so unless I have a tragic fall or some freak accident (which hopefully wont happen) I probably wont be wheelchair bound till im in an old folks home

Happy days!!!

In other news, since I've been given the all clear on my condition, I've resumed playing bass guitar and I've bought 2 wonderful basses which I play non-stop. I also completed my year in college and graduated with my diploma, it was a one year introductory course but afterwards I earned a scholarship to a prestigious university near my home and I've transferred. Now, instead of studying game design, I study a computer science and media degree with business. I'm in my first year of a 3 year course now, starting second semester tomorrow!!! I hope to study abroad next year or in my final undergraduate year

Oh, and one more thing, to any Irish people on here (Im half Irish half Polynesian) come to Epic Con!!!! I'm the PRO (Public Relations) in the Omega Soc in Uni, we host Anime nights and stuff on campus and we are holding an Anime and Games Convention on Campus in February and all members of the public are welcome to come for fun and freaky anime and stuff!!! Its cheap, only 5 euro for a one day pass as much as I've heard. I'll probably be working on security there and also working with my co PR Officer to promote, maybe you'll see us canvasing the City Centre with flyers or something, we still have to sort out our promotions campaign haha, but if you're down the Quays by Forbidden Planet we might be outside handing out info or something, Ill let you guys know when I find out.

Anyway, one last note ... I bleached my hair alot and also met the Irish Navy!!!

COOL HUH!!!

I only joined the 405th last November , so this is the first time I have seen a post from you but its always nice to see a new or old face on here so welcome back.

Thanks Spartan IV Its a pleasure meeting you So glad to see not much has changed here, the people are still very friendly, from the threads I've had a quick read through anyway, and your wonderful welcome back message

I don't think there are many forums out there as friendly as this one Everyone here is so approachable!!

Great to hear that you're doing better and that you're getting back into the swing of things. I know how hard recovery from serious illnesses can be. Although i didnt have anything major like you, i had open heart surgery, I know that it takes time and patience. I've only been on the forums for about 2 months or so, but already feel like part of the 405th family; and its good to have one of our members back. I'm Mack, or Tiger, and its nice to meet you too.

Open heart surgery sounds a hellz lot more dangerous than my condition!!! So glad to hear you are well though!!! I havent had surgeries, my condition is moderately static, there is nothing to do to "fix it" or remove the problem, the only time I'd need a surgery is if I injured my bones so badly they couldn't heal up themselves, but since the severeity of my condition has been lowered I should be able to adjust to normal life again soon It was really reassuring when the specialist sitting across a desk from me said "I have the condition too and I live a perfectly normal life" she even told me that all the things doctors had warned me not to do, I could do, I cried, I actually sobbed when she told me I could learn to do anything I wanted to again!!!

Anyway I'm rambling haha, I'm sure you guys will hear more about my therapy as I work through it once I get an appointment from the hospital, but that aside, its great to meet you Mack, I hope we can chat tonnes more in the future

_Spartan_117 said:

Open heart surgery sounds a hellz lot more dangerous than my condition!!! So glad to hear you are well though!!! I havent had surgeries, my condition is moderately static, there is nothing to do to "fix it" or remove the problem, the only time I'd need a surgery is if I injured my bones so badly they couldn't heal up themselves, but since the severeity of my condition has been lowered I should be able to adjust to normal life again soon It was really reassuring when the specialist sitting across a desk from me said "I have the condition too and I live a perfectly normal life" she even told me that all the things doctors had warned me not to do, I could do, I cried, I actually sobbed when she told me I could learn to do anything I wanted to again!!!

Anyway I'm rambling haha, I'm sure you guys will hear more about my therapy as I work through it once I get an appointment from the hospital, but that aside, its great to meet you Mack, I hope we can chat tonnes more in the future

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It is always better when the person that you're going to see has or is closely connected to the disease that you currently have. They seem to take better, more close care of you then. Also I looked in on your paintings and they're amazing, you have a great talent there; and you play the bass! We'll get along great, I play the drums; been going strong for about 20 yrs now. The bass is a drummers best friend

Yeah, theres a level of understanding there that even the most experienced specialist can't have when you meet someone with the same condition, I was very lucky, chances are my therapist wont have the condition, but I trust he/she will have worked with lots of people learning to walk or use limbs again so hopefully it will be fine Its just a relief knowing that there are people out there with conditions who really triumph. Although its dangerous if you have the severe form (which, according to a specialist I was wrongly diagnosed with) you can be incredibly talented at a price, there was a violinist (whose name escapes me) who could play remarkable things because his fingers were so odd, though it caused him incredible pain. Great talent can come at a great price sadly.

And thank you so, so much, painting is one of my great passions, while I can hold a pen or write without pain at the moment, I find using an adapted stylus and graphics tablet, one can still do amazing things

And YES oh my god I LOVE bass, I have 2 now, and of course bass and drums are best friends, they're percussion part of the band, the backbone I've only been playing a few months, but, since Im double jointed like the bassist who inspired me to play, my fingers have a good stretch and range, though a "normal" bassist wouldn't play the way I play but I think it works to my advantage sometimes.

I made a tab for all my halo work, and put my other paintings in their own tab, so my armour is up
here
http://lovethevisualsystem.tumblr.com/Halo
If you want to have a look.

Check out this video, pure talent on both Drums and Bass, this is the reason I play I have that same bass too! Took months to sort out buying it and was a total pain shipping it over but worth it!!!

That vid is AMAZING!!! i love stuff like that. Also i looked at your halo stuff, paintings are great and your pep work is ultra clean. Do you listen to primus? They're basist is also double jointed and he's a monster on the bass. And thats a sweet bass. I dont have a set currentlybut this is the set that i want and my inspiration for drums....jp bouvet and travis barker

Haha, I would say thanks but ... well its not my video xD its my fave band, isnt it funny how just one person, or a group of people or a thing can inspire people so much? Like Master Chief, even though he's a fictional character, Im sure he sparks lots of strong feelings in fans who try to emulate him in ways, kinda like what we here at 405th are doing making MJOLNIR armour

Thanks again about my paintings and pep work, Im a bit of a perfectionist >.< but thankies!! Honestly its my first time making a costume of any sort so I was anxious about it, glad to hear good feedback, in my old thread people said I was doing well also, and made great advice comments which were great.

I don't listen to Primus sorry, but I will check them out now that you mention it!!! Its good to hear of more double jointed musicians, I know to most people its not a very important thing, but since my bones are hyper double jointed (to the point where it used to be a little dangerous) its really good for me to see other people with bendy parts doing well!! Its a bonus if they sound good haha xD

Wow, both of those kits are beautiful, the first kit looked quite small and you think "Theres only so much he can do with that kit" and then, wow ... it was very impressive, it was interesting the way he used the electric drum kit too, a lot of the time they're pretty disappointing but he used it quite well with the rest of the kit. Nice sets indeed!!!!

This drummer (Yuki) has a cool kit, Im trying to learn this on Bass, I've got the first half down to a tee but it gets a little tricky here and there haha, need more practice!!! Yuki and Kai (from the other video I sent you) are impressive Drummers. My dad isn't often impressed by the bands I listen too, but he appreciates the bass and drums in these two.

I wonder how long it would take to get that good on the drums?

Let me know when you buy a real cool drum set aye Its always interesting talking with other musicians

I think that MC is so inspiring because he represents that inherent good that we all want to see in people.
My armor that i'm building is my first experiece with this kind of thing as well so i know how you feel about beeing really picky and wanting to take my time.
The little bit of electronics that he did use was just enough, i cant stand them myself but when used like that it makes you think twice about how you've done things.
She does have a sweet rig...a little too big for my taste I'm a "less is more" kind of guy.
And as to your question about how long it takes to get that good, I've been playing for 20 yrs; from age 5; and i still dont know...i think it really dem=pends on the person, and the drive behind what you want to do.
Where you're double jointed, have you ever thought about trying to learn to play a frettless bass? I know that its a little harder but its sooooo sweet too see womeone who can do that.

Welcome back!

Im a newbie but Hi! and welcome back! gotta say thanks for the videos you uploaded, new awesome music/bands for me to listen too

Thanks ISU and Mars

also @Mars, follow my thread long enough and I'll spam you with plenty of good music!!! I can suggest a few good songs if you'd like, heck, while I'm working I'll most likely be listening to iTunes etc, I'll post up a couple of songs and bands along with WIP pics once I get back to work.

The current status of the project is as follows - Still searching for glue gun, need to buy cardstock - My xbox RROD'd so that needs to be taken care of too ... Apparently its beyond repair so Im selling the parts for scrap and investing in a new one, anyhow, If Im not swamped under college work I might get around to making a few pieces

My current project has all been done in HD, but for the legs Im switching to LD, simply because my balance isn't very good, I dont want to put too many fiddly details on the legs, I think if they're stronger and a little less delicate looking, they might be able to take a beating better, also Like I said before, im not exactly sure how much of a beating my hands can take yet.

And finally, responding to Tiger x)

Chief and Cortana are brilliant role models, Cortana in particular is a breath of fresh air, since most women in games are depicted as little more than a weak princess figure in need of rescuing, or a sexual object. Its nice to see more and more female heroines that are genuinely strong and something to aspire too, e.g. Lightning, Cortana, Liara T'Soni,Bayonetta (Although that game was full of sex appeal, she used it as a weapon, not a weakness which I thought was good, its good to see a woman aware of her sexuality, proud of it and not being taken advantage of).

Girls like Aya Brea (I think I've said this before) and Princess Zelda/Peach tend to be weak, pushed along by the males in the story and have little or no drive or initiative of their own. In halo, Cortana is so essential to Chief, and he is to her, that one cannot but appreciate and respect both of them, as well as aspiring to become more like them. Even other women in Halo, like Miranda Keyes, show that women can be just as heroic and courageous as any man, and I really appreciate Halo for that, and for also creating male characters like the Chief, whom respect women, and also respects his colleagues around him, he could easily squash any marines that stand in his way, but in every instance he's been shown to go out of his way to aid anyone in need. Those are the real kind of protagonists a game needs.

All the guys in that band were ... guys, even the guy in a dress, Hizaki, hes a man x3 that freaks my friends out, but I love listening to them. 20 years is quite a while to play, I've played guitar on and off for a few years, but bass only ... well not even half a year, but I've gotten pretty proficient at it. As for a fretless bass, it sounds cool, but I'm really comfy with my super long scale basses haha, its funny, most people my size would struggle to play a larger or longer bass, but my fingers have a wider range so shorter scale basses feel cramped yknow :/ I guess each musician is just different with different preferences.

spam away with the music. I am always open to new stuff

with the xbox, if you havent sold it already, did you try the towel trick?? It gave some life to my old one for a while.

good luck with continuing with your build, I am excited to see more/hear new music haha

Haha, you guys asked for it!!! xD

I've sorted out a repacement xbox, though I've probably lost all my achievements and stuff right :/ damn, honestly I've tried everything, and I took it to a group of pc/console repair guys for another opinion, they're the ones that say its seriously beyond repair but they're giving me a replacement (a slim!!! woo) so I'm happy enough, honestly I bought it second hand YEARS ago so its well used, its been through 1 RROD and survived, now its had about another 2 or 3 since its been "Repaired" so its time for a fitting funeral.

Man Im so busy in college its insane xD its only the first day and I was already meant to have a chapter of a text book I hadn't even bought yet read already xD haha so I gotta go work on that!!! You guys keep it cool though!! Once I get ontop of my workload I'll be crafting again!! *fingers crossed* I have to sort out a lot of things with the disabilities office concerning my bone condition, since Im aiming to start second year as a regular student and not with the disabilities office, need to sort out how I'll approach my exams this year, its a pretty annoyingly busy but good time right now!

Thats exactly what I love about cortana and chief as well. You couldnt have said it better. I think that there should be more female roles like hers and alice from resident evil. And as far as instruments go, i'm only 5'11 and I used to play a set where, when I sat down, I could hide behind the bass drum. My brother plays a really long bass, but he's 6'6, so its not that weird for him. I play a much smaller kit now but I held onto one thing, my long sticks. I cant play without having about an inch or two of counter weight, which sometimes gets me out of being cramped while playing on my new found love, minimalist kits.

Did you ever get the chance to check out Primus? Another really good bassist in my oppinion is the guy from korn...smooth and briliant. And of course, I have to mention Jason Newstead, and the new bassist from Metallica.

not 100% but I think you can "recover" your GT on a new console instead of creating a new one. So you should be able to keep all your points

I think with more women entering the gaming workforce (in roles aside from Booth Babes *eyeroll* dont get me started on that xD) games will inch towards equality or at least being more girl friendly. At the end of the day, the games industry is a business just like every other business out there, and it aims to reach the most people and earn the most profit it can, it can't achieve much if it rules out the whole female population, nor can it achieve much if it targets females exclusively. But having said that, games like the Mass Effect Series are tapping in on the potential profits from Femme audiences, without ignoring the typical male demographic by creating Male and Fem Shepard, and in general more and more games are jumping on the band wagon. The thing I really liked about FemShep was that she wasn't all sex appeal, she was essential the same as Male Shep but with a different pronoun, I really liked that, it was more about the personality or "essence" of Shepard instead of the gender, the game was the same no matter who you played as, and I played as Male Shep (so I could ship him with Tali but thats another story xD) and replayed through as Fem. Then again, when the sex of the character isn't changeable and is important (Cortana, Miranda Keyes, Chief, Johnson) I think their personality has to be the driving factor behind their appeal, not their sex. I liked that Miranda is suited up in respectable UNSC gear, and that Chief and Johnson aren't like ... I dunno male strippers or super ultra overly muscled guys (Chief may be, but its hidden under all that armour) Its nice to see some games companies are able to park sexism and cheesy fan service at the door (Totally not a dig at the Dead Or Alive series xD)

I havent checked out Primus yet (I'm doing redonkulous amounts of school work . or I should be but ... Im not TTATT) but I do listen to a little KoRn on occassion, they're bass lines are pretty funky but they always use rediculous tuning >.< I put my bass into an A tuning once and the strings were so floppy haha

also, Im trying to recover my Gamertag hopefully I know my password or whatever xD haha and if all my game saves are lost, I JUST GET TO PLAY THEM ALL AGAIN xD haha I don't mind much

Anyway, armour update, I've scribbled in some dates into my organiser, so I will be pepping wednesday night (maybe the morning) and Thursday morning next week, and depending on what Lab assignments I have maybe on friday or the weekend next week

For now, to keep me insane till Im pepping, I'm continuing my 100 theme painting challenge and currently painting a Ford Mustang ... so far, I hate painting cars >.< i seriously don't paint objects, I paint people!!!


For anyone looking for Cool Tunes, if you like a little heavy Metal, Im currently listening to Trivium, first song i heard by them from a close friend of mine in school was Pull Harder on the Strings of your Martyr, but they have lots of good stuff, I like the albums Ascendancy and Shogun best.


one of their good live in studios, the drums take a pounding

and this has to be one of the most impressive guitar duels I've seen in a long while

I like the part at 1:21, because I LOVE hearing guitarists tap the whammy bar, when its done like at the right time and not overdone, it makes a beautiful sound (The whammy at the end I hear a little too much and its not as good :/ )

Good to have you back on the 405th, and great to hear you're recovering!

You may hate painting cars but youre doing a fantastic job! I paint people too, cant do objects haha