Wednesday, April 14, 2004

   What a cool coat. A really, really cool coat.
Oh, almost forgot. I want this coat.

And no, that's not a typo. It is the Sumurai Coat.
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   Good Morning Random Sovereign Nation!
Yes, that was random. First and foremost, I'd like to recommend that anyone reading this blog also visit that of my friend Radaghast (Meatspace Alias: Alex). Last night, I found out that he lives in Topeka, and because of this, he needs all the support of the Otaku community.

Why? Because, to put it plainly, Topeka is also the home of Fred Phelps, resident homophobe and leader of my rivals-in-morality, the Westboro Baptist Church.

Now, for those readers who are either first-time-visitors, or are amnesiacs, let me give a quick refresher course on who Fred Phelps is. Fred Phelps is the leader of the Westboro Baptist Church, a group mainly comprised of Phelps' immediate family. Which wouldn't be a problem, if he didn't have these sites: (WARNING- EXTREMELY OFFENSIVE) GodHatesAmerica.com and GodHatesFags.com. Basically, the folks at Westboro go around and "picket" (read: stand and yell at) places they deem to be "unchristian, against God", and whatnot. Mainly, they bother gay people, but they have on occasion gone up against anyone whose beliefs differ from their own.

For example, as I just found out last night (from Radaghast), members of the WBC threw rocks/bricks (can't remembe which) at a priest, due to his conflicting beliefs. They also picketed the death of a Senator, because, again, he wasn't a member of the collective. (We are the Phelps. Lower your self-worth and surrender your will. Prepare to be assimilated.)

Which is what drives me insane about the man, and his little organization. Now, I don't have a problem with the man on a personal basis. It's just that his and my moral compasses are pointing in opposite directions. At first, I thought he just stood around and yelled at people for being gay, American, whatever. But now I find out that the man is actually a violent sonuvagun. Thus, I dislike his beliefs all the more.

So, in short, Fred Phelps no me likey, Radaghast is a cool guy whose blog you should definitely check out, and I'm having a very interesting discussion on religion with Japan86, whose MyOtaku Blog is also worth checking out.

Itte ki masu.
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Tuesday, April 13, 2004

   For once, I have no political ramblings!
Just a simple complaint. Why is it that people have a drive to ram their beliefs down your throat and berate you until you conform to their Borg-like views? The following is a direct quote from my grandmother, relating to Christianity. (I assure you I DID NOT MAKE THIS UP! And no, I don't hate my grandmother or anything like that. We just disagree on a lot of things. I'm not some antisocial psycho! Well, I'm not antisocial...)

"Now you see why Jesus will live on and on for ever and on through eternity? Don't knock him, always praise him and you might die easier someday. Knock him, and you can die hard, lots of pain. Because we've all gotta go, huh? So you'd better believe in Jesus, see? He can make it easier or harder, it all depends on your faith... In JESUS. And how hard you work to do Jesus' work until you do die. Don't ever knock him though, because he does exist. And so do his father and his mother."

>_< Oy. Thankfully, such rants are few and far between.

In other news, the human race is doomed, my friends. DOOMED, I TELL YOU! (If you actually take this seriously, and believe the Onion is a reputable news source, I will personally hunt you down and do something both of us would end up regretting. "It's bad for my karma, and it'll be DEFINITELY bad for your karma!")
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Monday, April 12, 2004

   No way is somebody this stupid...
Michelle Hemphill is suing over a card depicting her drinking during her wedding.

The card shows her in typical wedding attire, drinking straight from the bottle (I'm assuming Jack Daniels?). The inside of the card reads; Isn't love intoxicating?

As I sit here watching Good Morning America, I hear Mrs. Hemphill complaining about how, since everyone has now read her name in the headlines and seen the picture, her integrity and reputation have been basically shattered for eternity. I can't help but laugh.

Now, I do realize that the card company didn't ask her permission before making money with her picture, and I understand where she's coming from. But, in all honesty, I can't feel very sympathetic, and here's why.

If she hadn't decided to sue and make an OMFG BIG DEAL about the card, she wouldn't have appeared on national television. If you have something you don't want people to know about, is it really wise to whine about it on national television? And on a show people actually watch!? >_<

Now, as we all know, I'm an anime fan. Obviously, otherwise, I wouldn't be here. I buy Shonen Jump whenever possible, and hope for Cartoon Network to wise up and pick some shows that appeal to those of us over 7. But, I simply cannot stand Kazuki Takahashi's Yu-Gi-Oh!, be it anime or manga.

Why? It's simple. Just look at the May 2004 issue of Shonen Jump, and skip ahead to Yu-Gi-Oh! The first plot? The character known as Katsuya Jonouchi manages to get on a game show, with the hopes of winning a million yen. Specifically, "The Get the Million Game". >_< Basically, he makes his way through the show's trials and tribulations, unaware that the last challenge is rigged so he loses. Fortunately, Yugi comes in and saves the day. But, the studio goes under, thus making Jonouchi's mill-yen-aire status invalid.

After that? Just a small excursion against a game-stealing punk who ends up dead after Yugi's trademarked "Shadow Game". >_< You've gotta be kidding me. I'm quite sincere when I say that I have found better plotlines in an elementary-school English class.

If you're looking for a great game-based anime/manga with a supernatural twist, I'd recommend Hikaru no Go by Yumi Hotta and Takeshi Obata. And if you want the game but not the ghost, I'd go with The Prince of Tennis by Takeshi Konomi. Shonen Jump is coming out with TPoT graphic novels on May 10th, so you're in luck.

In closing, if you've got a tidbit of your past you don't want dragged into the light, for the love of a random deity, don't talk about it on national television. And, if you're a Yu-Gi-Oh! fan, I hope I've helped you to rethink your life. (Kidding, don't bomb me with hate mail!)
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Sunday, April 11, 2004

   *achoo!*
First off, I'd like to wish everyone a Happy Easter. And if you're like me, and you've got a hell of a cold during your Spring Break, I sympathize. *achoo!*

Now, as we all know, the Easter Bunny has become a big part of easter for the little kids. "Here Comes Peter Cottontail" and whatnot. Now, here's a kicker. Or a whipper...

Apparently, as is the tendency around Easter, a small church in Pennsylvania held a little play a few days ago. No big deal, right? Wrong. A little ways into the play, somebody dressed up as the Easter Bunny shows up. So, what do the good play participants do? As planned, they portray the Easter Bunny being whipped, while they break his eggs. (Can't help but smirk at that line) Kids are crying and screaming as they see their cute, furry little friend get the crap beat out of him, while the pastor or whatever repeats "There is no Easter Bunny."

W. T. F. Now, I know, Easter isn't supposed to be about the Easter Bunny, it's about how Christ was resurrected from the dead, etc. But even so, terrorizing little kids is just plain wrong. They acted as though the rabbit was a threat to the kids' faith or something. I don't see anyone worshipping the bunny. It's just zealous fanaticism, plain and simple. (Doncha love it how people tend to skip over what Jesus actually said?)

Anyways, I've got some small semblance of good news. Having procured about 20 bucks, I'm hoping that I can have my friend Caruso order me a copy of Mushashi Miyamoto's Book of Five Rings from AWMA. Specifically, this copy: I love the cover.

I'm running out of energy, willpower, etc. I'll post again tomorrow, hopefully unafflicted with a cold.
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Saturday, April 10, 2004

Bill O'Reilly = Mein Scapegoat
Once again, Bill O'Reilly has justified Maddox calling him a "big, blubbering vagina". Here's proof.

Okay, Bill. You say that the situation in Iraq is not an uprising?

Uprising:
(n.) An insurrection; a popular revolt.

And what is an insurrection?

Insurrection:
(n.) A rising against civil or political authority, or the established government; open and active opposition to the execution of law in a city or state.
(n.) A rising in mass to oppose an enemy.

Now, let's see how the definitions of insurrection and insurgency compare.

Insurgency
(n.) A state of insurrection; an uprising; an insurrection.

So, let's reiterate. A synonym for 'uprising' is 'insurrection'. And the definition of 'insurgency'? Insurrection. So, lemme set Bill straight on this one: Technically, Fallujah is in the middle of an uprising.

Bill, please, do your viewers/readers a favor. Make sure you know what you're saying, before it can escape your lips. Uprising=Insurrection=Insurgency, and vice-versa.

Yet one more reason why Bill O'Reilly drives me... freakin' nuts!

(And yes, those are the actual definitions of the words, according to BrainyDictionary
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   And people wonder why I want to move to Japan
In a recent poll, CNN found that most people in America are opposed to gay marriage. Which is not surprising, considering that most people in the US are Christians. If you go on to read the article, you will see a portion that mentions a majority of people believing that homosexuality is "against God". Am I the only one who remembers Seperation of Church and State?

Another thing bugs me. About 6 out of 10 people said that they are tolerant of gays. WTF!?

Sure, we'll tolerate you. Just as long as you don't ask for the same rights.

Hypocrisy, plain and simple.

Religion should have no sway over the issue. The only reasons behind this issue are Christian beliefs. What people fail to realize is that not everyone is a Christian!

I find it ironic how the Seperation of Church and State is a one-way system. The government has absolutely no rights to interfere in religion, which is a good thing. But if Christians want to step into the government and force the tenets of their faith (beliefs which, btw, Jesus never actually mentioned) down everyone's throat, regardless of faith, there is no problem.

Hypocrites... >_<
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   Let's get political.
Seeing as how I've been abnormally cheery as of late, I figure it's time to simmer down a bit with some politics. (Don't worry, faithful readers. There's plenty of insane ranting ahead. What do you think I am, some sort of... Republican?)

The first order of business? Bush's popularity seems to be slipping. At the very least, by a margin for error of 3%. If you ask me (of course you would, you're reading my blog), I think it's because of the Bush Administration's overall dishonesty as of late. When President Bush and VP Cheney asked to speak before the 9/11 commission, they basically told the council what they could and couldn't ask. Which makes it appear as though they have something to hide. Whether they do or don't, such a course of action can only cast suspicion on the administration.

Also, during the Bush-Clarke feud, the White House retaliated to former counter-terrorism chief Richard Clarke's accusations of inadequate action on the part of the administration with personal attacks, instead of presenting a mountain of "facts". When the administration sidesteps whatever issue is at hand, and uses childish "I know you are but what am I?" tactics, it's time for a change.

Yet another reason for Bush's loss in popularity? His religious agenda. Now, I'll be the first to admit, Bush isn't pushing to turn the US into a theocracy. But it seems as though he's creating a demi-theocracy. For example, Bush's proposed "constitutional" amendment banning gay marriage. The only reasons I've heard in support of this amendment have been religious in nature. Bush says he's protecting the "sanctity of marriage" in the interests of the American people, and is doing what the people want. Question: What is the "sanctity" of mariage? People get married when they're so deeply enamored with each other that they're ready to make a humongous commitment to each other. Just because the two people are homosexual does not mean they are any less serious about marriage. Bush seems to be saying that gays want to be married just to make a mockery of marriage. And as far as doing what the people want, I've discussed the issue with a lot of people in school. Mostly, people are unopposed to it. Those who were against gay marriage gave their reasons as either religious dogma, or homophobic fallacies. And, if I remember correctly, religion is supposed to be separate from affairs of state, and prejudice is supposed to have no place in the government.

But that's just my opinion. Here's John Kerry's. I sincerely hope Kerry wins the election, as he raises a good point here.

. "George Bush and the Republicans in Washington today have run the most arrogant, inept, reckless and ideological foreign policy in the modern history of this country."

I'm inclined to agree with him.

A final reason I dislike the current administration is the use of fearmongering. For example:

"John Kerry's political attacks are not a strategy to win the war on terror," Schmidt said.

It seems to me that, no matter what the issue is, the White House always manages to slip in a reference to 9/11. Erego, Bush should have his campaign slogan read "VOTE FER ME! TERRAR 9/11 SADDAM AL QAEDA TERRAR!". It's simply amazing how successful Bush's fearmongering has been among the sheeple. For example, in a recent discussion with my grandmother, I brought up how Bush pulled out of the Kyoto agreement, which was made in the interests of environmental protection. How did she respond to this? She simply reiterated Bush's successes in the War on Terror (while ignoring his failures in the same operation). Now, I'll be the first to admit it. Bush got rid of Saddam, which was a tremendous service to not only Iraq, but to the rest of the world. But that's pretty much all he's done. The war in Afghanistan seems to have pretty much ended, and we have more of our military resources in Iraq than Afghanistan. What ever happened to the search for Osama bin Laden? Yes, we've still got a presence in Afghanistan. But it's incomparable to our stand in Iraq.

And so ends yet another episode of Random Rants. If you've got an opinion on the subject (or simply wish to denounce me as an "anti-american, communist terrorist-sympathizer"), feel free to add your comment. Itte ki masu, and good God I need a witty tagline.

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Friday, April 9, 2004

   What is the world coming to!?
Ladies and gentlemen, I am afraid that Britain, one of the last few refuges of rationality, has fallen.

That's right, Britian is televising... a sperm race. What more is there to say?
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   Revolutions Recalibrated
Today has been, quite possibly, the best day of my life. Firstly, I purchased the May 2004 issue of Shonen Jump, and so far, it's turning out great. My only complaint? That it's printed in Canada. Which explains why the ink has been running lately.

Also, I've procured the Widescreen DVD of... The Matrix: Revolutions!!! Which, besides having the movie itself, also contains a great deal of extras. Thus, the geek inside of me is dancing and singing. Probably Domo Arigato, Mr. Roboto. Or Nobuo Uematsu's band, Black Mages.

In other news, during my online excursions, I stumbled across this BBC article: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/3611969.stm Is it just me, or is Puritanism making a comeback? Sheesh!

Itte ki masu.
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