Television

Television. One of the most common source of entertainment and, also one the largest time wasters that our culture has to offer. I watch TV every now and then, but not a real lot. I'm mostly on the internet, which is also a common source of entertainment and time wasting. But we won't get into that. Anyway, most of the time spent watching TV is wasted. Pure and simple. We might laugh or cry, but are we really being engaged? Not especially, our minds aren't given time to let our imaginations work. Honestly, what do you gain from watching a reality show? Not much, I can tell you that. Yet we are entertained. Instead of making our mind do the hard work of thinking, we give it a break and let a show do the thinking for us. We aren't even usually given the choice to share feedback, like we would while watching a youtube video or something. This doesn't mean that TV is bad, necessarily. Many documentaries are engaging, intriguing, and education in a way that the information will stick with us. And I can't help but crack a smile when watching old retro shows like "The A Team", "Knight Rider", and "Leave it to Beaver".

As you most likely know, I enjoy anime. Isn't that a cartoon? Well, yes it is. But it is on the computer, so I am able to pause the video when ever I like (which is usually extremely often, it can take me an hour and a half to watch a 30 minute video because I am bouncing back and forth so much). Not to mention that it is in Japanese with English subtitles. That is just cool. And because I plan on learning Japanese at some point it is educational. And did I mention that I can also experience Japanese history and culture? Yeah, I don't think time is being wasted here.

To clarify, I am not against film here. It is an art medium that many film makers feel is a why to express their creativity. After all, I quite enjoy doing special effects. What I'm against is the mindlessness that TV has evolved to represent. Many shows allow us to stop thinking. All the mental capacity is needed is to be able to operate a remote control. And sometimes, not even that is required. Just pressing the "on" button. I just wish that we would press it again a little sooner, instead of allowing it to steal our valuable time.

Garage Sales

Tomorrow I will be off at the local garage sales in my fair town. I have always enjoyed garage sales, despite never actually having one. But going to them, that's fun. Walking/driving around town, trying to find which of the sales are the best. Being a guy, I'm not particularly into "shopping", but garage sales are different. Their vary nature means that at any instant a wave on nostalgia will overcome me. Some old toy, game, or video, and BAM, instant memories. Truthfully, I can't help myself when looking through the newspaper with adds for garage sales. When I see the word "toy", I instantly zero in on that sale. Which is odd, because I rarely play with toys anymore. Still, it is a hot topic word when it comes to sales for me, I can't help but want to see what games and what toys. Still, I hardly ever buy anything. The memories are more than enough to give me satisfaction.

You know when you look over a post it seems to have a different feel than what you imagined while writing it? That happened with this post. In every day life, it is rare for me to buy things. Mostly because I hardly ever leave the house. But this post seems to portray me as if I really get into the "spirit" of shopping. Which I don't. It's garage sale specific.....

Being A Nerd

I'm a nerd. A big one. And yet at the same time, a dumb one. Like someone who spends all their time and energy on something and yet only excels on SOME things. After spending a day of playing MineCraft, reading several hundred webcomics, and laughing hysterically at abridged series after abridged series, I think yet again of how big a nerd I am. I seriously haven't exercised for forever. I'm a pile of bones that fly across a keyboard making my wants realities (figuratively speaking) on a virtual plane. Except going to an Anime Convention, which is basically as nerdy as you can get, I have had minimal hum contact in the last month. Hours and hours are invested in various nerdy activities, how could I go back now? I have reached and passed the point of no return. Less and less do I care about the opinions of other people. Seclusion and solitude are a solace.

Once I had a few young children (about 3rd and 4th grade) ask if I was a nerd. I replied in affirmation. Still, they wouldn't take my word for it. They discussed if I was a "nerd" or if I was "cool". I simply wondered why I couldn't be both. Finally they reached the conclusion that I was "cool", which I guess is good for me. But again, I think, why do we think that I can't be both? And I'm happy to say that I don't care if I'm the latter.

Characters Having Minds Of Their Own

Yet again my mind is being dominated by writing a story. The characters, though they have yet to be developed, are starting to have a mind of their own. Actions are not decided because I think it would be cool, but because the characters think it would be cool. The story is flowing, instead out of my mind to the page, like a river. Continually rushing, with no beginning and no foreseeable end. Don't you you love it when stories, plots, and characters are like that? As if they are writing the story themselves? I like to think of one Charles Schulz (the creator of the comic strip Peanuts) story. Although I can't remember the exact wording, Charles (or "Sparky") was having a conversion with a reporter about the lineup of the players on Charlie Brown's baseball team. It seemed there was often some discrepancy about which position each character would play, such as who was second base, because several players had been seen on it. Now I don't remember the exact words that Charles used to reply to the reporter, although I recall that it went something along the lines that he didn't know, they just picked positions themselves or something. Isn't that how writing is supposed to be like, letting the characters loose to wreck havoc on the world as we know it? Isn't more plausible that they are the one's in control, not us? Who are we that we think that we can tell them what to do? They have achieved sentience, and there is absolutely nothing we can do about it.

Laughing Over The Internet

There are many objects of interest on the internet that provide amusement. How do we express this emotion? By laughing. It is true that we could just giggle at the screen, but why not show our pleasure by telling the world about it?  There are a few ways of doing this, and I will cataloger them here for future referencing.

LOL: The infamous "Laughing Out Loud". Though very easy to type, and thus suited for beginners, this option is not recommended, because it is very likely that we will choose to eat you if you use this prolifically.

Hahahahahahahaha!!!!! Still one of the more "simple" options, this is a step up from "LOL". This effect is achieved by alternating hitting "H" and "A" keys. If you wish to make it longer and therefore more annoying, feel free to use "Copy and Paste". "Hahahahahahahaha!!!!!" symbolizes loud, boisterous laughter.

Bwahahahahahaha!!!!!! Ooh, now were are getting more advanced! The addition "B" at the beginning throws off many people, but fear not! Simply try typing this one more slowly. If you messed up (such as "Bbbbwahahahahahaha!!!!!!" or "Bwabhabhabhabhabhabhab!!!!!!") simply delete it and try again. Remember, this can take practice. Even us professionals mess up occasionally.

Mwahahahahahaha!!!!!! Similar to "Bwahahahahahaha!!!!!!", but achieving a different effect. This is the "evil" laugh that were are so fond of. But to be honest, it is more fun just trying to laugh this way in real life....

Although this is somewhat weird and useless, after I got this idea I could not help but use it. No matter what happens, at least I'll know that I amused myself :)

Anime Iowa: Day Three

Yesterday, Sunday, was the last day of the Anime Iowa convention. Sadface to the extreme.

I was cosplaying as the character Greed from Fullmetal Alchemist. I will excuse you if you have never heard of it. My particular costume included a jacket and shirt without sleeves. Which is weird because before this I had never worn a shirt without sleeves before in my life....

I loved the convention, and all the nice people that make it so enjoyable. For some reason, complete strangers seem on intent on giving other people hugs. As you probably know, I abhor hugs. So a few awkward situations were created when I refused. Oh well.

Anime Iowa: Day Two

Another day of Anime Iowa, and yet another day of awesomeness. I had seen the light, and most of the day was spent in the video game room, playing yet even more Super Smash Bros Brawl. In fact, I signed up for a Brawl tournament. It was doubly elimination, so after losing my first round I went into the losers bracket. My second round I won, and the my third I lost, putting me out of the tournament. Yet, it was a lot of fun. I was about an intermediate level player, so I couldn't keep up with the very best people, but I was on par with most of the players. But that is when a weird thing happened. Age became meaningless. Suddenly someone five or ten years older than me treated me with the same demeanor as they would someone their own age. That was kind of nice.

And today I went to the dealers room. It was a large room filled with venders offering all sorts of anime-related merchandise. Some things were way overpriced, some other not so much. Excuse me if I don't want to pay twenty dollars for a tee-shirt. Also excuse me if I don't want to buy an eighteen dollar wallet that is made of cheap material, even if It has graphics of Fullmetal Alchemist. The again, some of the manga was reasonably priced, 20% off of the cover price. I think I might buy some on Sunday....

Also, I seem to be somewhat stiff in pictures now. I don't know if my picture was taken too often on Friday, or what. I'll try to be slightly more acceptable to pictures today. Speaking of pictures, we haven't taken many. Apparently me and my sister are to shy to ask people if we can take their picture....