New Game, New Rules, New Arena

Let's see how this turns out, shall we?

New Game+

For those unfamiliar with the concept, please read: New Game Plus

I think it's time to let this old blog die. Not delete it. No, not that. There is far too much here that I would rather linger on the Internet and be read, dissected, and maybe even --- in some strange, warped sense --- appreciated. That isn't saying I'm done writing, however.

No. I love to write. I write for the sake of the act of writing, rather than any other financial, intellectual, or supposedly spiritual benefit of it. Writing is my arena, my domain. Abandoning it is unthinkable; I'd sooner stop breathing than stop writing, thinking about what to write, and looking at ways to write what my mind conjures.

I've always felt that writing isn't an art or a skill; writing is a game. In fact, it is The Game. I have, in many ways, been playing it for a long time now. Still, some inner contemplation has given me the chance to realize that the current set of rules by which I play no longer meet my needs. In a sense, I've hit the proverbial "upper limit" of improvement that my current rules allow. Thus, it is time to change the rules.

I will, of course, need time to restructure those rules. I find it kind of sad, really. I've come to rather enjoy this blog and the need to maintain the slavering, mindless hunger of it. Still, things must change and life must go on. Over-dramatic as it may sound, it is near the end of an era for me.

So the wheel of ages turns. We'll see where it leads this time around soon, won't we?

A Public Apology - Short Version

To whom it may concern:

I, Harvey Lauren Ong, would like to offer my sincere apologies for things that have occurred. Words have been said that have been interpreted as threatening, and statements made that have been taken as defamatory towards both the company and Mr. William Tengco. This was not, and never was, the original intent and these were mistakes and miscalculations on my part.

I am now offering a heartfelt statement of contrition, in the hopes of finding an amicable means of settling the matter. My actions were mistaken and miscalculated, and should never have been undertaken. I realize now what I did was wrong, and harm has been caused both to individuals and to the company at large.

Again, I would like to offer my apologies and my assurance – for what it’s worth – that such statements and actions will not occur in the future, and that these mistakes will not be repeated. This is in regards to both the company in general, and Mr. William Tengco specifically.

In closing, there is little left to say but this: I am sorry.

Fun Fact

Cockroach poison probably won't kill a man. Though, I have found that it has made it substantially harder for me to stay awake lately. Wonder why that is?

Take my love, take my land
Take me where I cannot stand
I don't care, I'm still free
You can't take the sky from me

Take me out to the black
Tell them I ain't comin' back
Burn the land and boil the sea
You can't take the sky from me

There's no place I can be
Since I found Serenity
But you can't take the sky from me...

--- The Ballad of Serenity, from the TV series Firefly

Game Over?

Link 1
Link 2

So, why the links? Seems about to be sued, you see. Or there's a substantial risk of me being sued. Can't say I'm surprised at this. Kind of surprised it took this long, considering local libel laws. I guess this is game over, then. At least, if I do get sued; slim chance of that not happening and all that. We'll see.

This is what I get for speaking the truth, I suppose.

The only real consideration I have left is simple. I honestly don't want to burden the people I care about any further than I already have. Which...well, this leaves me with one last move to play.

I Aim To Misbehave.

So, my boss wants a written (and signed, I bet) explanation for one of my recent entries. So I will oblige him. In the interest of transparency, I will include said written explanation here, along with some minor commentary.

With that in mind, let us delay no further.

The Explanation:

Why did I write those things? The answer is simple. It needed to be said.

We are employees. This comes with the sad implication that no matter what the boss does, says, or implements, we are to bend over and accept it. We do not question, we do not doubt, and we certainly do not say anything about it. Simply put, unless you are somehow in some sort of managerial position, you are apparently not supposed to complain, and you are supposed to just let people above you walk all over you.

I do not hold to that.

My view is simple. I have not said anything that did not need to be said. What I said is both my personal opinion and, quite likely, a sentiment shared by others in the company among the rank and file. I am not happy with this recent string of refusals to take command responsibility, the multiple instances of insane policy, and the constant attempts to take away what little enjoyment we have in the office environment.

I did not say anything that nobody else has not already expressed. The only difference is that I said it out loud. I figured none of them were actually going to speak up about it, to be frank about it. Quiet acceptance, I have noted, has only invited further provocation from the company, and frankly, I was tired of being provoked.

Someone had to come out and openly say the things that we have kept bottled up and never spoke of. Someone had to let it all out. Someone had to make you notice. Whatever it is you think you're doing, we aren't happy about it. Most just choose not to talk about it for reasons of their own. As for myself? I've done this before; I saw the need to speak out then, and I see the need to speak out now.

Your recent actions show us you have no respect for us. You have shown us no respect in your decisions, your policies, and your actions. So I ask, why should we continue to show you respect?

So, what comes next? Maybe he'll fire me. Maybe I'll get some sort of sanction. Maybe nothing will happen. I honestly don't know, and am only barely bringing myself to care about the possibility of being unemployed. Again.

One would think I've have learned to keep my mouth shut by now, but, see...keeping my mouth shut means I am being "reasonable." Frankly, if everyone in the history of the world was "reasonable," the human race would be extinct. So I made my choice.

I did not back down.

I should, perhaps, mention that I do not intend to take anyone with me. Yes, we all think the same as what I said, but not everyone said it out loud. That was my move, and my move alone. Should my move be justification for my part on this Game to end, then so be it. I will only regret that no one else spoke up as I did, because I think we all know more people need to speak up.

Note: Many thanks to the wonderful series Firefly and the movie Serenity for the title. Great stuff.

Good Girl. Bye Girl.

Death, as I have mentioned before, is something I view as inevitable and inexorable. You will die, and you will not be able to avoid it. So by and large, I think I'm going to be able to die more or less able to accept it. It sometimes becomes a different matter when it comes to people around me, however.

I did not feel much of anything when my grandfather (maternal) died. Nor did I feel anything when my grandmother (paternal) died. Their deaths were expected. Then we come to the most recent death of someone that mattered to me, even in the slightest way.

Brownie (pictured above) was my uncle's pet dog. Don't know what breed, don't particularly care either. Anyone who knows me will know I prefer animals to people. I find humans disgusting things, and take more comfort in machinery. Barring that, a good dog or cat. What I know is that I find her death has affected me quite deeply, almost as if I was her owner and had raised her for years by my own hand.

She died of cancer. Didn't even know dogs could get cancer. I find it barely consoling that she died quietly, in her sleep. The worry was that she would live to the point where it became unbearable to do so, and had to be euthanized. I...a part of me is glad it didn't come to that.

In a way, I think she knew it was coming. Little things, like walking up to us and sitting down, just begging to be petted or paid attention to. Maybe I'm over-thinking it, or seeing something that's not there. Regardless, I will hold on to the belief that she did that yesterday because she knew it was her last chance.

I don't think I have a point or something to say. Just...I think I just need to admit that this has made me profoundly sad, and I'm going to miss her.

You know who you are.

My Boss Is A Sanctimonious Sonovabitch

Ignore the picture, I just put it there for decoration.

One of these days, the people that I work for are going to die. I am going to hear about it, and I am going to take a very, very fine amount of distinct pleasure from it. Hopefully, that day will come so deliciously soon.

In case I haven't been crystal clear, I actively and openly hate my bosses and I hope they all die or have some measure of sense beaten into them. Violently and continuously. It isn't any one big act of sheer stupidity that's gotten to me, unlike one of my former employers. No, my current office has managed at least avoid that. This one, this...Asia1Pro (yes, I know, it is an insipidly stupid name and I avoid having to mention it whenever possible) has earned my displeasure by compounding numerous little things into the mix.

I learned to live minus the USB ports, though the fact that they're still blocked is something I am still personally offended by. I still think their insistence on not letting us use them is stupid. I find my view of this worsened by their excuse, citing "security reasons." So...for the almost two years we've been using them, they weren't a security risk? That's a flimsy excuse and you know it, Tengco. Sure, they reason that there is a perfectly workable alternative and that we can simply talk to the network admin to have them temporarily reactivated, but see...there's still a problem there.

The alternatives mentioned have a tendency to fail rather miserably, and one of them has been a dismal failure for weeks now. Not that it was ever much use, considering that there was no way we could actually recover files from it. As for the network admin solution, it is a waste of time --- both the admin's and the employee's. So, what, each time I need to make a back-up of something, I need to talk to him, assuming he's even around? Wouldn't it be significantly simpler to just open everything up and get rid of the proverbial "middle man" in this?

Then there's the numerous sites they've decided to block. I could care less about social networking plagues like Multiply and Facebook. Blocking those sites I can somewhat understand, even if they are (perhaps literally) among the few things that have kept the average employee in this company from becoming mindless drones on the job. I can empathize with them, mind you. I can understand how the blockage of these sites gives them a feeling of being stifled, of being deprived of what few available outlets they have to relax during the workday. But that's not my concern. My concern here is the fact that these morons have chosen to block YouTube and Photobucket.

You have to wonder why, really. YouTube I can sort of understand. It is quite possible to end up losing yourself on that site without even trying. Plus, some of the videos can be a touch taxing on the already shitty Internet connection the office uses. But Photobucket? Come on, man. The site does not qualify as social networking, so you can't use that excuse. It is an image hosting service, and the search feature isn't even all that comprehensive. For what logical reason could you possibly block that site? Unless the only reason it was blocked was to spite people. You haven't even gotten around to blocking the inordinate amount of porn sites that some people apparently access on a semi-regular basis, for crying out loud.

Oh, and let's not forget the fact that the guy who runs this hellhole of an office has decided it is against the rules to talk to each other. No, I do not mean that as a metaphor. He has blocked meebo, which means we are cut off from our individual, personal IM accounts. He has also issued a memo that basically can be summed up as "no talking, relaxing, or relieving stress during work."

No, I am not joking. We cannot use IM accounts like AIM or MSN. We do have Jabber, but everyone knows he monitors everything that gets mentioned there and it'd be an outright intrusion of privacy if it wasn't so blatantly clear he's doing it. As for the "no talking" policy, I sincerely doubt anyone really cares about it. I'm certain everyone who knows of it ignores its very existence unless he's around, and from what I've seen, he's quite capable of violating it himself. Still, when he's actually present, people do have to pay the stupid thing lipservice, at least. I sometimes wonder if he's deliberately trying piss us off, or if he's intentionally ignoring the stupidity of said policy.

I should not forget the most recent act of inexplicable stupidity, however. See, all of my previous employers, even the dumbass ones, have always had a relatively decent policy for holidays. Show up for work on a holiday, you get extra cash. Simple enough. There were no inherent confusions regarding what type of holiday it was, and certainly very few instances of us having no idea if we needed to show up for work or if it was optional. The current office? Now that's a bit of a story.

I can sort of understand all those times when they attempted to find a loophole in the wording or legalities to get out of paying us what is rightfully ours by law. But this recent...I can't even describe it. Let's go back to the previous holiday.

We are informed that we are not required to show up for work if we don't want to, but will still be paid. Fine, most of us don't bother to show up. Who's going to pass up a long weekend, right? There's a hiccup to that, though. A hiccup, I might add, that the chain of command was well aware of prior to informing us we can choose not to show up for work. That hiccup is that, for some inane reason, the Department of Trade and Industry declares the field we happen to be working in as being exempt from the holiday. Never mind the sheer strangeness of being exempted from a declared holiday. The point is, the higher-ups knew we were not counted and yet told us it was our option not to show up anyway. The next day, we come in, and we are not so subtly informed that we are all counted as absent, "no call, no show" for the day. Why? Because some insipid moron higher up the chain of command sent the wrong info and never bothered to correct it. It is not our fault that you got it wrong, and not our fault you were too stupid to do anything about it. Yet he took it out on us anyway by not paying us for that day, instead of taking the responsibility for his mistake!

Oh sure, try to fix it by having us all file sick leaves to get paid for it. That doesn't work because, you see, we weren't sick. By having us file those things, you are making us take responsibility for your mistake. That's not how a chain of command works, you sanctimonious sonovabitch. I haven't touched those sick leaves. I haven't touched my vacation leaves. I was not going to use them to cover up your inability to grasp the concept of "command responsibility!"

Which brings us to today. Yet another holiday. This one, for the past few years, has been consistently optional. We have never been required to show up for work for this particular holiday, and even when we don't, we get the regular daily pay rate. Yet, for some reason, this year, we have no idea. See, nobody seems to know whether we need to show up or not. The only way to know for sure is to ask the HR liaison/Admin assistant person. That, however, brings up a few issues.

First, my shift clocks in at 0900 hours. The person in question clocks in later than that. What does this mean? Well, if I want to get paid either way, I need to clock in on-time. If I don't and there is work, I won't get paid despite actually being at work. Of course, even if there is no work, it'd be pointless. I've already clocked in and if I leave early, I am forfeiting my pay. So damned if I do, damned if I don't. Oh, and the person who knows whether or not we need to show up? She's on leave.

Second issue is the simple fact that nobody seems to know whether or not the holiday even counts. For crying out loud, is it that hard to make a clear decision on whether or not it counts and inform us? If you and your delusional state of mind want us to sit in front of our piece of trash computers and attempt to do our jobs despite the atrocity that is the Internet connection we use, then why not just say so? It'd be far less aggravating than having us show up for work, clocking in, getting work done, and then telling us we've all just wasted our time.

I swear, if finding another job wasn't so damn inconvenient, I suspect many of us would have left by now.

Disheartening

I know not why, but I find Noynoy Aquino's decision to run rather...disheartening. It feels wrong for him to run for the presidential office, even if he actually does have better political credentials for it than his mother did. I have no idea why, but it just seems like a bad, bad idea.

Also:
I would consider my employers no better than thugs, goons, and thieves for what they've done and will likely continue to do. Then again, I cannot do that in clear conscience. I wouldn't want to insult the thugs, goons, and thieves of the world, do I?

Webcomics

I like webcomics. I find it comforting to be able to check on them and read updates and just have something to occupy my mind for a bit, entertain me. Here are a few favorites. Note that, for the purposes of universal enjoyment, I have decided to remove any webcomic that may require knowledge of a specific niche or field to enjoy. This includes +EV and Order of the Stick.

Marry Me: a short, very touching story about a pop star and a guy (conveniently named Guy) who has one of those cliche "Marry Me" signs during her concert. They get married, and that, ladies and gents, is when one of the sweetest love stories in comic format begins.

Contemplating Reiko: perhaps one of the best webcomics that delves into very, very dark humor. If you're not turned off by things some might find offensive, such as torture and casual killing, then you're likely to find this rather enjoyable.

Out There: there's not a whole lot to be said about this one. It is a good comic about normal people. Or a normal comic about good people. It touches on ordinary people and their lives, with their ordinary problems and concerns, and that makes for very compelling material. Either way, it is perhaps one of the most compelling reads on the Internet, webcomic or not.

Queen of Wands: this webcomic is already complete, and it is also an excellent read. Insights into things everyone thinks about at one point or another, and a very compelling, very lovable cast. Don't let the name fool you; there's nothing in this that's occult but the name. An excellent, very well-written work.

Nana's Everyday Life: if this comic fails to make you feel sad or cry, then you have no heart, no soul, and no humanity.

So, Who's Hiring?

It is time to move on, methinks. After about two years or so with this job, I feel it is about damn time I moved on and found a better job. Or at least one that isn't so...annoying. Not that I'm unemployed just yet, merely seriously considering other offers. Frankly, there's not a whole lot of incentive left for me to stay where I am, and a slowly increasing number of reasons to get the Hell off this ship.

With that in mind, I can only wonder who'd be willing to hire a writer-editor with almost three years of experience in the field?

I have been told many times that I am good at what I do, particularly when properly motivated. I'm enough of a grammar Nazi to make sure things are done right, but not to the point that makes the writing too correct to be read. Yes, folks, there is such a thing as being too grammatically correct that the average person finds your work unreadable.

My blog has been online for years now, and it largely serves as a working records of my writing style when I'm being informal. As for more formal things, like articles and such, I can provide samples when asked. I could probably whip one up if given a topic and material to research and verify facts with. Admittedly, I rarely ever edit my own blog, as the content of it is rather raw and needs polish in every respect. Still, for what is essentially spur-of-the-moment writing, it isn't completely unreadable.

Despite my habit of openly questioning policies and changes to quota, I am undeniably reliable in producing what is required of me. I've never been absent, as far as I recall, have only been late once --- and only then due to a technicality --- and I maintain a strict policy of not calling in sick if I can still walk and type. For those who don't quite see what I'm getting at, it means I'm always around to actually get the job done. Mark my words, barring truly unreasonable demands, I do get the job done. I have yet to be remiss in my daily quota of written material without extenuating circumstances.

I also have experience in the field. I've written blog posts, promo ads designed for SEO projects, web content articles, and even a few press releases. Though, admittedly, I think I should discount that last one due to the odd nature of the assignment. In any case, I've been at this for three years, and know a thing or two about what is needed if the writing is SEO support. I've written for both formal and informal media, along with my own personal projects.

I don't really do social networking, so feel free to ban YouTube, Multiply, Friendster, and the like in the office. Even if you don't, I'm just as likely to find a way to block them on my own as I am to grudgingly visit them. No accounts on any of them except YouTube, either, and I only really use that to have a playlist handy for whenever I feel like it. Just don't take away USB ports, Google Mail, or Google itself.

Anyway, that's enough self-advertising. Time to get some work done, and then spend the next few hours finding a better employer.

Ooh, Shiny.

Maybe it comes down to the gadget geek in me, but I really want one of these beauties.

I Know How You Feel, Hitler

Standard Of Beauty

Deep down, I think everyone in the world has what could be described as their own personal "standard of beauty." A sort of baseline they use to judge what fits their concept of what is aesthetically pleasing.

Not in any deeper sense than what the senses can pick up, naturally. Skin-deep, if you will. I'm really not that different from most assuming my thoughts are accurate. There is something --- or rather, someone --- I hold up as the standard by which I judge whether or not something has a beautiful appearance.

See, I've met my fair share of beauties in my life. I confess I've never been that close to most of them, and in some cases the whole thing was just me being a cold acquaintance, but it was never one of hostility. I guess, deep down, I've always adhered to the simple philosophy I formulated late in high school: be nice to the girls and girls will be nice to you.

There is one, however, who has managed to stick in my mind. A girl of such beauty that it is, frankly, hard not to use her as a benchmark for judging the appearances of everyone and everything else.

From what I recall, she's not just physically beautiful either. I remember her being generally friendly and personable, if not quite the type to associate with just anyone. She was also very smart --- not a genius, but she had a good grasp of academics between her shoulders. She was, overall, a very nice person. Likable, even lovable. But we were never close. Which makes it rather odd for me to realize just how much she's lingering in my thoughts lately.

I haven't seen her in years, not since high school graduation. I've never heard from here either, and it is really unlikely I will ever hear from her when once considers my relatively isolationist tendencies. Yet she lingers in my mind.

Lately, her visage has been more prominently manifesting in my mind. I swear I can hear her voice every so often, saying things I heard her say years before. I can't figure out why I'm remembering her now, though. I can't think of anything that might trigger such recurring, rather prominent thoughts.

The thoughts are not romantic or intimate, either. Platonic, essentially. I'm not sure why I'm thinking of her, of finding some way to contact her, even if it means violating my own principles and signing up for some soul-sucking social network.

I must ponder this a bit, and try not to let my thinking of her distract me.

Coin Say What?

So Monday is a regular working holiday. That legally means there should be an increase of about 30% in the pay for the day. Yet, we have been deprived of such by the arbitrary decision of the company lawyer.

With that in mind, how did he come to such a decision?

Damn thing came up heads. No 30%.

So, Quarter Life Crisis, Is It?

A very nice piece, I think. Standing ready, and the only direction is down. Oddly, the metaphorical feeling of standing on a roof with no other way to go but straight down is familiar, and it is almost unwelcome.

Things don't feel like they used to. Work is no longer as empty. Sleep is no longer as relaxing. Games are no longer as enjoyable. Food no longer tastes as good. Pain no longer hurts as much.

Maybe I've just started to grow number as time goes on, losing touch with everything around me. May, I believe, called this a "quarter life crisis," or something along those lines. It is an interesting means of categorizing this. The feeling that you've achieved nothing, that you are never going to achieve anything, and the odd, disturbing realization that you're more mortified by the notion of succeeding than you are at the prospect of impending failure.

I suppose, in a way, I can blame this on the fact that I feel older than I should. I don't seem to have the energy or the euphoria that people my age should. This insane, almost instinctive drive to prove ourselves masters of the universe, that we --- and we alone --- have glimpsed the fine threads that bely reality's fundamental mechanisms. Yeah, I have none of that perceived invincibility and supremacy. Instead, I have a crushing acceptance of the futility of human pursuit.

About nine years ago, the original Starcraft came out. I was among the first players here to see it was a good game. In some ways, I think I even predicted it would become the hit it is today. I had long forgotten how to play it by the time it became popular. Now, Starcraft II is looming over the horizon. Unlike most, who have become excited by the prospect of the sequel hitting the markets very soon, the impending release just reminds me it has been so very, very long.

Several years older, but not several years wiser.

Every day, I wake up with just a little less energy. Just a little less desire to actually wake up. Just a little more disappointment that I actually woke up in the first place. I guess you could say I'm dying inside in a more obvious manner than usual. Or, as others I know might theorize, I am adrift and badly in need of a new direction.

Through all this, I hear the voices in my head. For the first time I can remember, I can hear them clearly.

Perhaps, just perhaps, I will listen.

Duly Noted.

The new Evangelion girl, from Evangelion 2.0 or something like that. Have to hand it to Gainax. They may be milking this series for more than what it's worth, but their character designs are still pretty decent. Cute, even.

On Mortality.

On average, 146,357 die every day.

It can be considered a sizable, staggering number. Until one considers that there are literally a few billion people on the planet. Living, breathing, surviving. And in the end, all those billions of drops in the overall sea of humanity have but one common trait in common. Sooner or later, we're all going to die.

Billions of people, all waiting in line for their turn to die.

I've found myself thinking about it fairly recently. I think I'm thinking about death in the usual manner that people do, assuming they think about it. That is, are they afraid of it, wondering how and when it will happen, and things they'd like to do before time runs out.

I suppose I'm like everyone else in having a list of things I'd want to do before I die, if at all possible. Just that is a long list of things that I can't do, no matter how many improbable events occur in my favor. Some of these items aren't so much things I'd want to do before impending death as they are goals, tasks I'd like to accomplish at some point. Though, I suppose, there are a few items that are the sort of thing only someone with the assurance that he's dying soon (and thus be relatively safe from the consequences) would do.

Timing doesn't seem to be much of an issue for me, either. I could probably die now and not particularly mind. I guess this comes from the grim acceptance that I'm going to die sometime, and have no say in that matter. Neither do I have any real say in when I'm going to die, so no point really bickering about that, either. Death is the great inevitable, and pondering about when the inevitable happens is kind of pointless to me. Certainly, I'd prefer it be not quite as painful as it could be, but when the end comes, I think we all have to accept it with the stoic dignity that comes with knowing you won't have another chance to be dignified.

What I'm not so sure of, though, is whether or not I actually feel anything concerning death. I'm sure I'm going to die, and I'm sure I'll have next to no control over it. But what do I feel about the fact that I, like everyone else, am mortal? Strangely, all indications point to me not really caring. Perhaps I've come to terms with death even though, statistically speaking, I'm not exactly going to keel over and die the next day. It will happen when it does and how it does, and I find it difficult to muster the will to care about it. Granted, I probably will care when its happening, but now? Not so much.

Death is inevitable, and I accept that. I don't embrace it, but I'm not going to fight it. Not that I believe in much of an afterlife, either. I'm not entirely sure what prompted me to start considering, pondering mortality and the prospect of death, but I've come to find it rather fascinating.

Is it strange, I wonder, to enjoy thinking about death, yet not entirely care about the death itself? Still, many would consider this acceptance to be an alien concept, something that goes against the natural preservation instinct of the human animal. I'm not sure why I've come to accept it, maybe even embrace the idea of dying. Perhaps I'll figure this oddity out, perhaps not.

Tempus mortis.

From Crime Library: Deborah Gardner

The Case.

I occasionally browse through the Crime Library, read up on some articles and cases. It helps me put things in perspective somehow, and reminds me that the world isn't as pretty as tourist ads would like to present them to be. There are some ugly things out there, but reading through it, this one case struck me the most.

Not because it was the most heinous. Not because it was the most compelling mystery. Not because it remains unsolved -- though, technically, it does. I find it compelling because the Peace Corp and the US government let a man get away with murder, all because of the potential damage to the organization's reputation.

This is a clear and present travesty of justice, but I guess I should expect nothing less of the US. Her killer deserves to be punished, and justice needs to be done. This whole thing is just...there's no real way to describe it. I mean...all the evidence points at him, the victim even managed to mention him by name before dying, and the Peace Corp and the US government orchestrates his being allowed to get away scot-free?

If I were in charge, that man would be hanged by the neck until dead.

There is no justice in the world. None at all.

Very Impressive.

The above is a cake, believe it or not. An actual cake.
These guys are amazing.

Grievances

The nature of the world is such that, one way or another, someone has to complain about their job. This is natural and to be expected. No matter how nice of an employer you are or how good you are as a manager, sooner or later, someone is going to complain about something. It could be something small and insignificant, a matter that will blow over given some time and maybe a nice paycheck. Others are more genuine and concrete, and will brew for prolonged periods under the surface, simmering until some undefined point when it becomes absolutely intolerable.

This post is dedicated to one particular aspect of the daily workload, known as blog commenting/research. Basically, it requires one shift to find 40 blogs a day that fit certain parameters, while the other shift takes those lists and finds 6 of them a day to place comments on. There are other aspects of the task, but these details are not required to know.

There are, naturally, a few guidelines. First, they have to be of a specific rank. This one is easy enough, just time-consuming because of the nature of the tool used to determine it. It takes so damn long, especially if the blog has a lot of javascript or flash running. The second is that it has to be open for comments. As of now, we are hidebound to the research half of the task, and we've been getting some annoying messages about it. The worst of which would be that there can be no duplications not only within the "40 per day" but from the very start. The second is that if the blog requires registration, then there should already be one. And finally, if links do end up duplicated, we have to provide replacements.

To an extent, I understand the insistence that no duplicates be made. This is perfectly understandable, as excessive duplication of the output just speaks volumes of laziness. However, given the nature of what needs to be done, I find it completely unreasonable to expect a complete lack of duplication entirely. We cannot be expected to have a master list of our output that we can all access for comparison to the output for the day. Do you have any idea how long it would take to countercheck all 40 of them with the hundreds that get compiled onto said master list idea? It'd take all day, so unless the boss wants us to sacrifice everything else for this specific task, then expect duplicates to crop up every so often.

Then there's the issue of active accounts on the sites we seek out. This one I have two issues with. First, we got a lot of those sites when we were on the receiving end, rather than the research end. I can personally say that at least half of the ones I got required a registered account to place comments. However, while we all got it, we didn't complain. We simply skipped over them and used the ones that didn't require registration. And he wants us to not only find these sites, determine if they need registration, then confirm said registration? Does he have any inkling, any concept at all of how long that would take? Waiting for a registration to be confirmed could take days, and we already do quite a bit of registration daily -- just not of this nature.

The second issue regarding registrations is this: we skipped past them during the last rotation, why can't the night shift people? It isn't like there aren't a whole of other options available on hand in case one is unusable, and it isn't as if everything we list down actually gets used. When the blogs are sent in at 40 a day from 4 different researchers and the comments required of the other shift comes down to only 6 per day per commenter, that's a lot of leftover stuff. Even if a few require registration and need to be skipped over, there's very little chance they'd actually run out of sites on any given day.

Finally, I absolutely refuse to provide replacements for duplicates. Duplicated links will be inevitable given this task, and we already do what we reasonably can to minimize them. The whole process is time-consuming, especially given the piece of shit Internet connection (my home wireless connection is faster, honestly) and the fact that my PC seems required to crash at least twice a day at the most inopportune times.

Thinking about it, I have another issue I need to let out. Whenever I meet with the night shift people, I don't hear any complaints. We send in our required number of blogs, and if there were any problems, I figure I'd hear about it from them on those instances when I arrive before they head home. It has happened a few times, and not one complaint. So why is it that the division head seems like he's got nothing better to do than to dig through our lists and look for duplicates or other things to complain about? If the people who use the lists don't see any problem with what we provide, then why should he?

We encountered these same problems in the last rotation, when we were doing the commenting and the night shift did the research. We certainly didn't make a big deal if one or two blogs were the same, or if some of them required us to have to sign up for an account on the site. We got the ones we could use, did our jobs, and paid the rest of them no mind. We'd appreciate it if the favor was returned.

For The Empire!

I will confess to a strange, sadistic fascination with crushing Soviet and Allied forces alike using the Empire of the Rising Sun. I haven't had this much laughs and fun out of an RTS in a long, long while. I can't believe it took me this long to even acquire this game.

I've always been a moderate Red Alert fan. The series is like a sci-fi B-movie spliced with a mockumentary of World War II, with a healthy splash of the Cold War thrown in. The whole thing is so over-the-top and full of stereotypes and ridiculous concepts that I can't help but find it unspeakably enjoyable. Even if the Allies win every single time. Damn Allies.

The Allies are still the most effective overall. The Soviets are still undisputed masters of the ground and pound method of offense. And the new faction, the Empire of the Rising Sun? Well, they certainly need far more micromanagement than the other factions to be put to use effectively. However, once you've gotten the hang of that down, it is a relatively easy path to victory. Expensive, but easy.

The Allies are still the dullest, most unexciting of the factions. Even with every unit having some form of hard counter to it, they're still remarkably dull to use. It's too easy to win as them. Besides, I've never liked the Allies.

The Soviets are fun to play, and their best tactics are exactly the sort of thing I'd do when I'm in no mood to think of more complicated tactics. They're very effective with the right tactics, and ridiculously fun to play no matter what.

The Empire, though, is my clear favorite. There's something very satisfying about using them, particularly their more advanced units. I particularly favor using Rocket Angels with a force of Strikers or Tsunami Tanks as back-up. Great way to wipe out an entire base if done right.

Next step: acquire the expansion, largely for the Yuriko Omega campaign and the new units.

He's Bad.

One might wonder why I am doing this. There are, for me, certainly far more notable recent deaths. Farah Fawcett, for one, since I grew up watching Charlie's Angels re-runs. One cannot deny I enjoyed David Carradine's role in the Kung Fu series (both of them), even if it seemed awkward to watch him play a master of Chinese martial arts. Then there's Ed McMahon, who served as the one celebrity I will always remember as one of the most thoroughly entertaining people I've ever seen. I am also late for an obituary, which this most certainly is not.

First, let me make one thing perfectly, crystal clear: I am not a Michael Jackson fan. I listen to a few of his songs, the ones that I personally enjoy, but I am by no means a fan. I enjoy songs regardless of artist, and the so-called King of Pop definitely had some good ones.

With that in mind, I do know how to give credit where credit is due, and it is certainly due here. Wacko Jacko managed, before turning his personal life and his sanity into a farce worthy of the finest comedians of all time, to make some very good songs. In many ways, he had a couple of good ones even after acting like a crazed lunatic.

Some have great messages, others have great beats, but out of all his music, I would have to say only one is my personal choice. I think that, for anyone that likes his brand of music, there is at least one song that resonates in them. The same holds true for me. One song of his does resonate with me more than the rest. Not because it has a deeper meaning, not because it has better quality composition, but simply because I enjoy the song more.

Bad

So here is a toast to all those entertainers who died as of late. To David Carradine. To Farah Fawcett. To Ed McMahon. And yes, to Michael Jackson. I may not be a devoted fan of any of you, but if nothing else, you have my respect for your accomplishments.

Requiem et Pace.

The Last Airbender

Trailer Link
The director is M. Night Shabalabadingdong. The ethnicities of the cast are all wrong. Aang has been cured of his ADHD. This adaptation will suck, like all movies done by this director.

Mark my words: this movie will suck.

With Honors

Most often, I watch a movie and like it for a bit, then promptly forget about it. A lot of movies tend to be like this for me, no matter how much money they make in the box office or how highly the critics recommend it. There are, it would seem, a few movies that manage to stick in my mind, the ones that I'd not only watch, but obtain a permanent copy of in case I feel like watching it again. One such movie is With Honors.

It is, at the core, a simple movie about a college student and the homeless man who holds his thesis hostage. It is also a bit of an education on some of the facts of life that academic studies don't really mention. The movie has touches of comedy and touches of drama, and blends it all into a supple mix of a film. It is the kind of movie that you will remember because it has this resonance about it, something that strikes a chord in me.

This is a movie I'll count as one of the rare films I want to have close at hand, and can stand to re-watch without losing even the slightest bit of enjoyment. It is also oddly inspiring, and watching this and Find Forrester can often give me that little bit of mental push I need to keep at writing.

Now I leave with a quote from the movie, which itself is a quote of the great Walt Whitman:
"To drive free, to love free, to court destruction with taunts, to feed the remainder of life with one hour of fullness and freedom - one brief hour of madness and joy."

How Nostalgic

I've noticed something.

For several weeks now, I've been torrenting a lot of old TV shows and cartoons. Stuff I grew up with, stuff that probably had a hand in shaping my tastes and preferences in entertainment. I occasionally think I had a fairly typical childhood in most respects, but I firmly believe the sorts of things that I watched as a kid were far from typical.

Take, for example, Beverly Hills 90210. As weird as countless people seem to think it is, I grew up watching that show. I love that show, actually. It is one of those things that really helped me figure quite a few things out, not to mention served as a very strange sort of adviser in many areas.

Watching it again has brought back quite a few pleasant memories. Then again, I think anyone that re-watches something they grew up with would feel good about it. Interestingly, the show is still as interesting for me now as it was for me back then, despite some of the episodes falling a little flat in terms of their premise. Overall, it still is a very good show, and one that helps me sort out my thoughts on various matters.

Perhaps strangely, I think I can attribute a lot of my personality to the show. Every so often, I see a bit of my own personality being reflected in some of the characters. I can't quite tell if this is because I picked up those traits from the show, or if the show just does this coincidentally. I am oddly certain a lot of my views and perceptions on relationships -- and a lot of the advice I dole out when asked about such -- tends to not come from 90210, though I have yet to identify the source.

Then again, it isn't just the old 90210 that I'm looking into. I've found myself grabbing copies of the original seasons of Transformers, from before the animated movie (and certainly before the atrocity that is the Michael Bay version), G.I. Joe (in preparation for the coming movie, which looks to be awesome), and possibly even the animated Batman cartoon.

I'm slightly tempted to try and find a copy of the Adam West Batman TV show, but something tells me I'm better off not revisiting that part of my childhood.

I blame my Internet connection.

And my sanctimonious son of a bitch boss, who still holds to the non-sensical policy of keeping our USB ports non-functional. The dimwit.

Cherry Blossoms

Despite the prolonged hiatus from writing and the inevitable death of my creative ability due to the fact that my job sucks, I think its about time I got back into the grand old game. For far too long, I've let my focus on getting work quotas done get in the way of what writer is really supposed to be doing.

I have an outline ready, and I know I can flesh it out. Time to get back into the game, time to do some real writing, and not the garbage I have to "write" for work. I'm a writer, so I need to actually do some writing again, right? Besides, I kind of miss the tingling mental sensation of fleshing out a scene that previously only existed in my mind.

With any luck, "Cherry Blossoms" will just be the tip of the iceberg and I can use it as a stepping stone to writing more stories. I've abandoned the game long enough.

The Fall Of The USBastille

I'm going to make this post's point very simple: I want my USB ports back, you sanctimonious son of a bitch.

I can (and have) put up with a lot of junk, a lot of shit, and a lot of stupidity in the name of a steady flow of cash. My patience is surprisingly long in this regard, and I have been quite patient so far. After all, there are few things in this world that I value more than a steady income, so in the name of that, I am willing to deal with a lot.

I put up with the arbitrary reasons given for virtually any policy that gets set or changes in the workload that occur. It isn't so much that I mind the changes or the policies, really. I found the bullshit reasons that came attached to them to be annoying, and occasionally insulting to my intelligence.

I will put up with ridiculous policies on sleeping or having any sort of enjoyment in the office. Let's face it, those policies are stupid and nobody is really going to follow through on them if the one who made them up isn't around. We will pay lip service to your insipid attempts at establishing control but don't expect us to buy into it because you say so.

I will put up with them putting privacy-invading software that allows them to see the things I do on my work PC. I understand the rationale behind putting it there. That doesn't mean I don't take offense to the fact that it is invasive of my privacy and quite insulting.

I will even put up with the fact that I believe every last employee of this company to be grossly, grossly underpaid. I mean, for all the work we do, we could be making a lot more than we currently are. I suspect the only real reason we stick around here is that, on some level, we enjoy each other's company. And the free Internet.

I will even put up with the incessant whining I hear from practically everyone else each time a site like Friendster or Multiply gets blocked. I never liked social networking anyway; think its stupid, really. The constant whining when something of that sort gets blocked is just so incredibly repetitive and annoying.

I even manage to put up with the fact that the Internet connection the office runs on is god-awful, to the point that a week doesn't go by without it breaking down completely. Let's face it, folks: it happens a lot. And there's likely quite a grain of truth to the joke that this is because the boss is too cheap to pay for a better connection.

I also put up with the noise. Gods help me, the noise of the night shift people as they're about to leave is grating. Not a day of this passes by without me forcing down the urge to grab a throat and throttle it until I hear that satisfactory sound of a death rattle. These people seem to never shut up, but no matter how tempting it is to silence them myself, I keep calm and not make a move.

But blocking USB ports? That I'm taking very personally.

See, I'm lazy. I like to spend half my time in the office sitting in front of the computer and doing things with no relation at all to work. Browsing Deviantart or Photobucket for pics to add to my expanding collection, for example. Sometimes I just type in some random topic I'm interested in and let Google take over from there. Other times, I just want to sit back, go into a forum and browse. But mostly, I like searching for pictures.

Pretty pictures of scenes, characters, backgrounds, and whatnot. I like taking them home. I like the thrill of seeking a specific picture, spending an hour or so finding it, and plugging in a USB drive so I can take it home and add it to my compilation of similar pictures. This is pretty much the only thing I bother coming to work for anymore, and my actually getting my work done ahead of time is a side-effect of it. Without that...well, work becomes rather pointless until I remind myself of the meager cash flow it earns me, doesn't it? Financial motivators only work for so long without something to support them.

I'm a digital packrat. I like to make redundant copies of my files. I like having at least two copies of any given file on two separate computers, making sure that in the event one fails, I can effectively restore things without too much trouble. In theory, there are a few back-ups in place for work.

This is fine and dandy if either one was actually capable of exhibiting some degree of consistent reliability. One back-up archive is useless since it is accessible only via the Internet and only within the office itself. I don't think you can even retrieve files from this archive. The other is crash-happy, especially whenever the electricity fluctuates or dies out. Plus, there doesn't appear to be any real way to get files stored there back - not without it being altered somehow, if things I've overheard from the voice loggers are any indication.

This leaves me with the option of simply dumping files into my USB drive and taking them home as back-up. Now this is no longer an option. Frankly, I'm not about to rely on two unreliable back-up archives when a better option is staring me in the face but can't be used because of some bullshit arbitrary decision.

I've taken a lot of crap over my time in this job. I've more or less put up with it. I've not once deliberately attempted to be insulting or confrontational of the boss' policies in any degree, no matter how much I disagreed with what's been laid down. But this?

Viva La Revolución.

So I'm Single

I'm single and, unlike many others in this situation, I don't pay much heed to that fact. I've never felt the need or the desire to attach myself romantically and emotionally to a girl in a manner that can be described as being said girl's boyfriend. Not that I'm disinterested in girls, mind you. Merely not interested or motivated enough to actively seek one out. This is of no real consequence to me, and proves to be no real hindrance to most of my interests. Still, once in a while, somebody - exactly who asks it varies, but sooner or later, someone will - asks that annoying little question.

"When are you going to get a girlfriend?"

I usually don't mind, and would regularly offer a flippant, uncaring response. I'd cite things like time or money more often than not, as having a girlfriend would require both and they are resources I have no interest in squandering on anyone but myself at the moment. Frankly, I barely make enough to do that as is. See, a girlfriend is really a luxury I can't afford. And yes, that's essentially what having a girlfriend is, when you boil it down to the most basic terms: a luxury.

I don't need one to keep going on with my life, now do I? I don't see having one as being a necessity for any aspect of my life as it is now. Having one right now has a low chance of adding anything to it, really. Other than just another way for me to alleviate my boredom for a brief moment, or someone to talk to to take my mind off work and, thus, delay my finishing my daily tasks. I think I have enough of those already, thank you very much.

Under most circumstances, it doesn't really annoy me when people ask why I'm still single. Under most circumstances. There are times when I find it annoying beyond all sense when they ask, though. Usually when the one asking is someone that has asked it consistently and should already know what the answer is.

The honest truth is that I'm quite fine in being single, and have no interest in undertaking a course of action that would make me otherwise. My mind is a mess and my life is far from ideal, and adding a girlfriend into the mix will only further complicate matters. Besides, I'm happy as things are now, with me having time for my projects and interests, as opposed to having to keep my thoughts occupied by thinking of someone else.

I'm single and, contrary to how people seem to think, I don't feel the need to go looking. Nor do I feel sad that I'm not attached. So honestly, I'd appreciate it if people stopped asking me if I want to meet this friend of theirs or if they want the number of this cute, single girl they know. It can get frustrating. Mind you, I'd like the numbers of cute single girls, but not for the purposes of pursuing them. I'm odd that way.

In the words of Moto Chagatai:
Who will stop me?

TDK

The Dark Knight Returns

I don't usually keep up with comics. Too expensive to keep buying issues and update my knowledge of the twisted plots and storylines. The best I can do as a fan of certain characters is to just read wiki entries and try to get the gist of what's currently going on. Still, once in a while, when they come out with compilations or (better yet) graphic novels, I do what I can to grab a copy. Among the finest I've ever read is this: The Dark Knight Returns.

It has a Batman coming out of retirement, looking as if he's pushing 60, because the Bat in Bruce Wayne won't give up the fight. The book hits hard, as we see the effects of age and time finally catching up with the Bat. He's not as young, as strong, or as fast. But ultimately, he is still the Batman. It doesn't feature his whole rogues' gallery, but it does feature prominent names in it. Including, rightfully so, the Joker. The confrontations do not disappoint, though it'd spoil things to say who he faces.

I also liked how Frank Miller added in commentary and analysis on the Batman. On how he might be the cause of the very crimes he punishes. On the fact that he became a criminal to stop criminals, and understands that. On the fact that there will always be people who think he's a menace, even as there are those that support him. It even touches upon something that most comic books don't, and that's somewhere, deep inside the popular consciousness, the common people they save are the most terrified of superheroes. A line from the comic says it best:

"We must not remind them that gods walks the earth."

This is one of Frank Miller's finest works, and is arguably the best rendition of the Batman ever made in any medium. It also ushered in the modern portrayal of the Batman as a grim, obsessive force of justice in the shadows. The force of vengeance and justice. A hunter.

It repairs the damage done by the campy portrayal of Adam West and perhaps reminded fans and artists alike of how the Batman should be portrayed. Not as a joke, and not as someone openly cooperating with the police and the authority, like Superman. Batman is a figure that borders on urban legend, a nightmarish enforcer that Jim Gordon has to bend laws and break rules to accommodate, simply because he gets the job done when law enforcement's hands are tied.

This is definitely worth the read. Batman at his dark, brutal best.

Boredom.

Boredom, folks. It has become my regular state of mind. So enjoy this pic of Akiyama Mio, from the anime K-ON!. More likely than not, I will end up writing about that show sooner or later.

I Am Not Pleased

I enjoy my holidays now more than I ever did as a student. They represent a chance to break away from the "work, work, work, work, die" mindset that being an employee can put you in. The monotony, the occasional burst of idiocy, and various other things just make the life of an employee that much more...tiring. No matter how much you love what you do. So yeah, I kind of look forward to being able to relax and stay at home, even on a day that isn't a weekend. It is, ultimately, one of the few things left in life that make actually showing up for a job that rots the brain worth the effort day in and day out. Yes, it is a very odd mentality, but it works.

So, tomorrow is a holiday. Theoretically, that means no work. However, being that I am working for a US-based company with an odd situation, which holidays are honored are handled differently. Local holidays are largely ignored since the US does not observe a whole host of them. This is understandable, and I got used to it from my days in call centers. Due to the nature of the company, US holidays aren't honored either, because our workload is not tied to them directly. It is confusing and I don't feel like getting into the specifics of it.

Thing is, for a while now, the division I'm in has been tied to another division as a sort of support unit. Think of us as being kind of like an auxiliary force in the military. This is all well and good, and it has never really come into play. It does, however, put in a procedure for how to handle whether or not we have to show up for work on a holiday. A legally acknowledged one, anyway. Prior to holidays, we basically ask the other division's head to see if our division needs to show up or not, or if only a certain number of us need to be there. This is fine, and perfectly acceptable and reasonable.

However, something's come up. See, tomorrow is a holiday. Original word from the other division head is that my division does not need to show up. We're a support unit, but they don't see the need to have us constantly be around, and from what I'm told, only a skeleton presence of the other division is coming in tomorrow. So far, so good, right? Then along comes a monkey wrench.

See, the boss of the place decides that one of us has to be present, even if the division we're designated to be supporting says that we aren't required to show up tomorrow. I see two problems with this, with a third lying in the back, just out of my peripheral vision.

First, it goes completely against what has already been established as how things work, and it undermines the other division head's authority. She's given the decision on whether or not we need to show up, and it is her call if our support is needed on a given holiday or not. Why place that kind of authority in her hands if her decisions on the matter don't actually carry any weight? This brings me to my second problem.

If he can undermine the division head's authority and basically require at least one writer to remain, then why bother have us asking the other division if we need to show up or not? Why not just outright say so, in clear and simple language, that one of us needs to show up on a holiday where we should not be showing up and instead be doing things that normal people do when on a holiday? There's no point in the established procedure if it has no actual bearing on how things work, is there?

And don't give me the "this is how things have always been" bullshit, because I remember it isn't. The last holiday, there was no undermining. We asked if we needed to show up, and were told that we didn't need to. No further questions, no "Word of GOD" telling us that "it has always been procedure for at least one writer to remain." That bit of protocol has never really been established as protocol, and has not been invoked in a relevant situation...ever. So no, you don't get to use the excuse that it's how things work. Then again, that hasn't stopped the higher-ups from doing it before, so I suppose I shouldn't be too surprised they're doing it now.

Finally, it is a thrice-damned legal holiday. By all rights, none of us should be showing up for work tomorrow. Not one of us. From any division. At the worst, showing up for work should be entirely optional, with double pay mandatory for those who show up. We should not be required to come to the office on a day that is legally mandated to be a "no work" day.

So yeah, I'm not happy about this. Not in the least. Then again, arguably, a good chunk of me has not been happy with this job for a long, long time now. But I'll show up tomorrow. Sure. I'll come in, act like nothing's wrong, and do what I do day in and day out, suffering the endless monotony of corporate employment.

One of these days...

Yowza.

That is one impressive sand castle.

A List

I believe I've pointed out before how ridiculous it was to make an "All-time" list. Largely because things change, tastes change, and something is only the best until the next "best" comes along. Still, that doesn't mean one can't make a lost that applies to the current time. With that in mind, I began to ponder. Seeing as how I don't think I've ever written about my Top Ten Anime before, I might as well do so now. If only to make comparisons to the contents of the list the next time I write one.

10. Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei
A depressed teacher with a tendency to cry out "I'M IN DESPAIR" for ridiculous reasons and a class of very, very strange students. Funny, particularly if you get all the references. Though the newest material feels a touch stale.

9. Higurashi No Naku Koro Ni
This is one of those shows that words will fail to adequately explain due to the sheer mind-boggling nature of the thing. However, I will say this: it is a show that needs to be watched from start to finish to fully understand the story and its meaning.

8. School Days
I have said a lot about School Days. It is worth watching if you just sit back and take it as it is, rather than trying to find some sort of deeper meaning to it all.

7. Candy Boy
Cute. Just too damn cute.

6. Gakuen Utopia Manabi Straight!
Two words: Forward GO!

5. Suzumiya Haruhi No Yuutsu
Girl who may be a god? Check. Crazy girl? Check. Odd but surprisingly good combination of philosophy, theoretical temporal physics, comedy, and pure anime insanity? Check.

4. Hidamari Sketch
What can I say about this series that I haven't said before? The show is just wonderfully relaxing, and has a nice does of heart-warming moments as well.

3. Toradora!
The single, best example of romantic comedy in anime that I can think of, with one of the strongest cast of characters I've seen in the genre, if not in the whole industry. Definitely worth the time it takes to watch, even if you're only in it for Ami-chan and Minorin.

2. Cardcaptor Sakura
The single, finest example of the Magical Girl genre out there, and don't let anyone tell you otherwise. Sakura is the original good girl of anime, and is among the most enduringly lovable characters ever created. Warning: avoid the dub at all costs.

1. Maria-sama Ga Miteru
Drama. A wonderful cast. A near-perfect, idyllic setting. Characters that you can feel for, relate to, and sympathize with. Yes, I am well aware this is a girl's show, but that doesn't mean I can't enjoy it.

Completed

So I'm done with Toradora! and here are my thoughts on the whole thing.

The Show Itself: It is, in many ways, typical of the harem genre, wherein all the females show interest in one shape or form for the lead male. There are some nice touches that help make it different, but the whole thing is structured to adhere to the principles of harem anime plots. However, it is a strong, cohesive, believable, and fun plot.

It manages to avoid the most common pitfalls of the harem genre by providing a lot of growth and personality to the girls, rather than only focusing on the lead female. The amount and the quality of growth is also very impressive, with all the females and event he male lead being given good opportunities to evolve as people, and giving the viewers insight into who they are and what makes them tick.

Overall, this is probably one of the best anime of 2009, and arguably one of the best examples of the genre. It is also one of the better novel-to-anime conversions out there.

The Domesticated Dragon, Takasu Ryuuji: As previously stated, Ryuuji is not a loser. He is not a moron. He is not a delinquent jerk. He is, for most purposes, perfectly normal. Sure, he is good at housework and eerily obsessed with cleaning things, but they add quirks that are both entertaining and set him just a little bit apart from the completely average, faceless, nameless Joe Schmoe. He's likable enough, but he'd be otherwise dull without the rest of the cast.

The Palmtop Tiger, Aisaka Taiga: Ah, Taiga. I will be honest here and admit I despise the character archetype Taiga is modeled on. I can't stand them. However, there are rare exceptions, and Taiga is one of them. For a while, she seemed like the typical annoying tsundere. However, she doesn't so much grow out of it as she does make you realize that she's more than just abuse and occasional moments of warmth. She's a deep character, with troubles, motivations, and yes, even a healthy dose of likability.

The Shining Sun, Kushieda Minori: Ah, what can I say about Minorin (that's her nickname, folks)? She's bright, she's cheerful, she's energetic, she's happy, and she's fun. She's got enough weirdness and airheadedness to entertain, but also has an interesting level of awareness and perceptiveness that can truly surprise you. She's not the moron she may seem to be, nor is she the girl who acts strong and happy to hide some horrible scarring. With Minorin, the shining sun is really the shining sun, and isn't a cover for anything else. Minorin is also a good friend and someone who genuinely cares about those important to her, though explaining that would probably spoil a good chunk of some of the later episodes' most dramatic moments.

Incidentally, Minorin is also one of the most fluid, invigorating elements of the show. Her antics, her songs, her energy are...infectious. Plus, when she finally admits her feelings for Ryuuji...the whole scene, the music, the running, Minorin herself...it just comes together rather beautifully, because you know that even as she pours her heart out, she's making the biggest sacrifice out of those involved, possibly the biggest one in the whole show.

Minorin is easily one of the best reasons to watch the show.

The Spider, Kawashima Ami: Ami is...complex. That much is certain. She can be quite childish at times. She's definitely capable of being coy, teasing, and playful. She's also surprisingly mature in some respects, being able to understand and see certain things that others don't catch on to. She easily figures out early on what Minori's feelings are, and perhaps even sees clues as to what Taiga really feels, as opposed to what Taiga thinks she feels.

Ami is a genuine, true character, but that doesn't mean she doesn't play a role in the plot. She's a well-rounded human being, and a lot of her meddling, poking, and prodding gets a lot of people worked up and, consequently, gets some things rolling in the storyline. Ami ultimately pushes the plot forward because the others can't; without her, the story would be trapped in a mire of boredom and inaction. On top of that, Ami is also an incredible friend, despite her tendency to be a complete and total bitch. That, and nobody but Minorin seems to ever listen to her advice. Even that was only near the end.

All in all, Ami is my biggest reason for watching the show, and one of the biggest reasons to love it.


Ami-chan and Minorin: (Pictured above) I think this bears special mention. The last few episodes seem to dance around the friendship between these two, and how they rapidly become closer to one another because of certain events near the end. I think it wouldn't be too much to ask for a short OVA or something on the friendship between the two. The closeness and comfort that they seem to be in around each other is startling, particularly because Ami has never shown that kind of ease around anyone but Ryuuji, and Minori seems to only be comfortable enough to cry in Ami's presence, not even in her best friend Taiga's. There's a story to be told there, I think.

The Good:
A well-done harem show, easily one of the finest.
Minori's confession scene is just...I can't describe it.
Ami-chan! Oh, Ami-chan, where would Toradora! be without you?
Very beautiful, very real drama.
Perhaps the best-written tsundere I've ever seen since Tohsaka Rin, from Fate/Stay Night.

The Bad:
Show can be a bit dull without Ami or Minori in the early episodes.
Taiga's voice can be just a tiny bit annoying.
It feels like some material was cut to fit it all into the 25-episode limit.
I find it odd that, despite Ryuuji and Taiga being the lead characters, it is the other character's confessions of their feelings that are more moving.
Expanding on the previous point, Ryuuji and Taiga can only be watched for so long before it gets real old, real fast.

I think that's all. So here's to Toradora!, perhaps one of the finest anime of last year.

P.S.
I need more Ami-chan.

Toradora!

I usually don't write about an anime I'm in the middle of watching, but this show is just too good to pass up. Even if it is of the harem genre.

Any sane anime fan will likely know about the harem genre. For those who need a crash course, I will be happy to provide. The harem genre is based on an age-old formula believed to have been initially established by the Tenchi Muyo franchise. The premise behind each show in the genre varies, but the core is thus: male lead, usually a hapless loser, finds himself in a situation where a female lead has his attention, and said female lead may have feelings for him already or may develop them as time goes on. To complicate matters, the show throws in monkey wrenches in the form of rivals. These rivals invariably end up being female, attractive, and interested in the male lead. As with all anime genres, there are certain archetypes and staples that are to be expected.

Examples of this genre include:
Love Hina
Midori Days
Hand Maid May

Toradora!, by initial design and appearance, is no different from a few thousand others of this genre. But there are some differences.

The male lead, Ryuuji, is not a complete jerk, nor is he a loser. In fact, he's very much the male equivalent of a housewife. Dependable, reliable, responsible, and generally a nice human being. However, he looks like a delinquent (by virtue of his father's looks), and many of his fellow students treat him as such.

Another key difference I've spotted so far is that the show is, minus a few things like one of the girls being a model on sabbatical, rather more realistic than I'd expected. There's no reaction or emotion displayed that, in context, would not have been impossible to see in the real world. In fact, a lot of the character's interactions, motivations, and actions aren't that far-fetched, and would likely be observable in a real high school setting.

It isn't just what makes Toradora! different from others of its genre that catches my eye, though. Like many shows of this genre, I am not too fond of the female lead. In this case, the so-called "Palmtop Tiger." She is, actually, the one character in the show I honestly dislike. That she's the female lead should just make it harder for me to watch the show, if I bother with it at all.

However, that's not the case.

The other two females, you see, are much, much more likable. Lovable, even.

The first one, Kushieda Minori, is what one might describe as odd. She's energetic, tends to sing baseball songs to herself, and seems just a tiny bit out there. However, pretty early on, we get to see a facet of her that's very human. It seems that she is, like any human being, afraid of things, and perhaps even insecure about some stuff. She also seems to sing baseball songs and do all manner of odd part-time jobs to brush away that fear. Seeing as how I've not finished the show yet, I can only assume that is the case. Still, Minori is a likable, lively figure. The slightly nusty friend you hang out with and genuinely enjoy having around.

The other one, the one I consider the real gem of the show, is Kawashima Ami. Ami is a model on sabbatical, for reasons that I will not divulge. It's a fun event I won't want to spoil. Ami is...well, to go into detail about what Ami is like is to spoil half the fun of watching her in the show. Suffice it to say that, out of all the girls in Toradora! and most of the girls I've seen in this genre of anime, Ami is perhaps the most cunning and the most...human.

I'll write in more detail the more I watch this show.

For now, I must continue watching each episode twice. Once to watch it, and the second time to make pretty screencaps to add to my expanding collection of pictures. Because if I don't...



So yeah, gogo Mistress Ami.

Kawashima Ami

Minorin (the redhead) got me watching Toradora!. Ami got me to see it through to the end.

A Thought.

This is the cross.

A thought occurred to me. Would the Christian messiah figure, Jesus Christ, really want to see the cross - you know, that thing that he got crucified and died on - all over the place in that supposed "Second Coming?"

I'm not religious, mind you, but it does bear some thought. Would you want to see the instrument of your death when you come back to life?

And that is about as close to actual devotion as you'll ever get out of me, as I think all religions are equal: they're all bullcrap.

Epic

Maybe it is the science fiction and science fantasy fan in me, but this is just So. Damn. Cool.

And yes, the picture is real.

Well, Isn't That Just Stupid

I have come to accept that, no matter how good the office, there will always be some degree of complete, inexplicable stupidity in it. This is not something I'd really contest or argue against, because it seems to be simple fact. I generally try to just brush it off and live with it, but there are times when this is impossible.

This is one such time.

In my current workplace, there is a rather odd policy regarding absences, quota, and the people who actually show up for work. See, they ask us to fulfill a daily quota of various tasks. This is not a problem, in general. This is, actually, rather typical and nothing to really complain or write home about. The problem arises when one of the writers decides to be absent without having filed for vacation leave or expressing intent to file for a sick day.

Then the writers in charge (one of them me) have to do half said absentee writer's quota.

Wait, what?

So let me get this straight. I have to not only do my work for the day, but I also have to pick up the slack for someone who didn't even have the common decency to show up for work? I'm the one that shows up in the office, yet I get the smelly end of the stick in this deal?

Why do I have to do more work just because someone didn't have the responsibility to show up for work? Why do I have to get saddles with extra load without extra pay whenever someone's not around? Why are the ones who bother going to work on a reliable basis the ones who get punished whenever someone else decides to not show up, for one reason or another?

The truth is, I think this policy about me (and one other) having to pick up the quota (even if partial) of missing writers is patently stupid. It not only fails to punish people for not showing up for work, it manages to quite handily punish the ones that do show up for work.

I refuse to submit to such idiocy. I am not going to take the punishment for someone else's screw-ups. I'm perfectly fine taking the punishment for my own mistakes because I'm stupid enough to get caught. But other people? Not on your life.

Adjusting To New Surroundings

I...am a creature that does not particularly like change. So all the recent changes are rather unnerving to me. New office and new home, largely. This has all been a bit of an adjustment, and frankly, I'm not too fond of having to change so much in so short a time span. Still, persistence manages somehow.

So, what's the new home like? Well, it is quite different, that's for sure. The place has another floor to it, but it is also much smaller in terms of sheer leg room. How much smaller? More than 75% of the floor area of my new room is occupied by my bed. That is a very small room. I suppose that isn't so bad, all things considered.

Lots of things to acclimate to, lots of things to allow to sink into my mind. And, naturally, lots of angles, loopholes, and exploits that I have to discover along the way. Not to mention appropriate adjustments to my previous patterns. Honestly, I look forward to no longer having to wake up early on the weekends just to get Internet access before my brother hogs it all for himself, the greedy little bastard spawn.

I really ought to tell what I know of the story that led up to me having to move to a new house, and I intend to do that sooner or later. Probably sooner. Until then, I guess I just need to make the right adjustments.

Otherwise, I may end up sane. Bad, bad thing.

Thank The Gods For HidaSketch

So. Moving day is approaching.




Quite frankly, I cannot begin to explain how frustrating it is. Over the years, me and the rest of my family have managed to compile an...incredibly vast amount of stuff that I cannot satisfactorily explain, get rid of, or even contemplate. It isn't so much the amount of work it takes to move a couple of decades' worth of stuff and more along the lines the stress of figuring out how to fit all that stuff into the new place. Oh, and how we managed to accumulate that stuff in the first place.

Then there's the typical frustrations and stresses of just moving from one house to another within such a small time frame. A lot of things have to be taken note of, adjusted, understood, and such. Everything that can fit or found a place for stays, and what doesn't (that's a lot of stuff) is tossed out. Frankly, I find it harder to part with some of the junk I've acquired over the years than I do with people I know. Yes, I know how strange that is.

Combine this with the usual stress and pressure of work - something that has finally decided to wear down on me more than usual - and I'm desperately in need of something to just take my mind off things. For such things, I turn to anime, but what?

It couldn't be Maria-sama Ga Miteru. The show was drama, lots and lots of character drama. I follow it religiously and thoroughly enjoy it, but it isn't the kind of thing I'd want to spend a lazy hour or two watching and relaxing to put my multitude of concerns away. So I picked up Hidamari Sketch.

Surprisingly, while the show has even less things happening than the aforementioned Marimite, it is quite entertaining. There's no real drama or plot. Just...the relatively calm, soothing world of an exclusive private school and the lives of four students who live in a small apartment right across it.

Yeah, not the most exciting concept in the world, but the vibrant personalities and relaxation factor make up for it. HidaSketch is one of those shows that just makes you forget all your troubles without getting you caught up in the cast's concerns and issues. While I'd be loathe to say it is better than Marimite, I think HidaSketch has a different appeal.

The relaxing nature of this show is what I need to just forget about real life for a while, and Marimite is what I need to watch if I ever feel the need to stimulate myself emotionally. Two different shows, two different effects, but I can't help but love them both with the fervor of a fanboy.


Besides, aren't Sae and her little sister Chika just adorable?

On a related note:
I really should buy actual DVDs for Marimite and HidaSketch. It makes it so much easier to lend them out to people who show interest in watching the good anime that never gets a local dub. Let's face it, a large percentage of what is shown here is crap.