All Consuming

Oh wow, where did the month of January go? Is it possible I blew through it obliviously, due to my newest obsession?

Paul and I have been playing a lot of Go this month. A LOT of go. Like almost everyday. To the point where it like starts seeping into your dreams.

What is Go? It's a strategy game that is mostly popular in Asia, where the object of the game is to outline the most territory for your color on the board. It;s been fun learning how to play better, but it's also been frustrating. Paul and I have actually gotten in some pretty heated discussions about playing style and the feeling of futility that often comes along (at least for me) while playing. It's kind of a love-hate relationship with a board game, where you want to like and want to be good, but it also irritates you sometimes to play. You know what I mean?

I guess a certain level of drama is inherent in the game though, especially if Hikaru No Go (2001)  is to be believed. Oh what's that? I forgot to mention that in addition to obsessively playing Go, we're also watching a cartoon about playing Go? Yes. Yes we are.

 

The show follows Hikaru, the boy with awful two-toned hair as he enters and excels in the world of competitive Go. What's his secret? He is possessed by the ghost of an ancient Go master (the girly purple haired guy), who escapes from a blood-spattered board and into his heart (aw). It's a show that takes the mundanity of playing a board game, and makes  it seem like a drama-filled epic adventure somehow. I still haven't quite figured it out. The show is really good though, and actually inspired a new trend of playing Go amongst young people across Japan, Korea, and the USA. 

So, in conclusion, play Go, watch this show about Go, and become a board game zombie like us. Jooooin usssssssssss!

Particle Man is from the Water Nation

I haven't been this excited about a video I stumbled across on the internet in awhile. This is so good!

Who knew that all the characters from "Avatar: The Last Airbender" and the relations between them could be summarized by the 1990 TMBG hit "Particle Man"?



OF COURSE - Aang is so Triangle Man. But my favorite part is Universe Man's watch.

Caturday XXXIX- Say "Meow!"

Most of my dear readers probably know that my wonderful husband got me a new camera for Christmas. It's a beautiful Olympus F1.8, and I'm enjoying taking pictures a lot more since I've gotten it.

Obviously, one of my most frequent subjects is our adorable/crazy fur monster, Kitty Roosevelt. Caturday seemed like as good an opportunity as any to share my latest shots of our shameless beast. Enjoy!

Snow Saureses

Can you believe it hasn't snowed, like, at all yet this year? It's kind of a relief. I would only like to see big piles of the white stuff on the condition that somebody makes me an amazing snow sculpture like these:

I would put on my snow pants and ride them! These Dinosaurs are from the Saporro Snow Festival in Japan. They are truly in the tradition of Calvin and Hobbes!

Late Arrival

1. Happy New Year! Ok, I'm a little behind...but I'm ready to commence a new year of blogtastic blogasms. In 2011 I wrote 178 posts- about one every other day. That's pretty good! I hope that I will endeavor to be as prolific in the new year. I've decided that my New Years resolution is to create more in the coming year, so there will be ample opportunity to post on the fruits of my crafty labor (I hope!). Thanks for your continued readership!

2. Here's another late arrival- This was intended as a stocking stuffer for Paul, but it turns out that it takes a really long time to ship things from Singapore.

It's a keychain featuring his favorite Bleach character: Urahara Kisuke AKA Hat and Clogs. The small girl with a big gun, Ururu is there too. Neat-O. Purchased Here!

Assorted Sorting

I hope that everybody had a wonderful holiday! I've been lucky enough to get some time off this week, which has been great for getting a chance to catch up on housework. This Christmas, I've given myself the gift of organization. Hooray for cleaned out drawers!

MOAR POLITICS

I know that it's not very festive of me to be talking so much about politics so close to the yuletide. My apologies. I AINT GONNA STOP NOW THOUGH!

I'm sure most of you have heard about the dangerous "Stop Online Piracy Act:" A proposal that would mandate that internet service providers protect us from ourselves on the internet. I'm absolutely uncomfortable with the idea that major media conglomerates, who control so much of what we see and hear already, would have the power to censor the internet, carte blanche.

If you're unfamiliar with what's at stake, perhaps a little rap will help clear things up. I'm in love with this anti-SOPA song by Dan Bull.



Preach.

I think what has upset me the most about this is the lack of care politicians have taken to actually consider this seriously. Refusing to hear from opposing experts, not paying attention during the hearing and then bragging about it (as if his constituents think this is cute??), and blatantly admitting they have no fucking clue what they're attempting to make a law: This is not democracy. It's amazing how blatant it is that the lawmakers are in the pockets of the MPAA and big pharma- "people" who have enough money to buy the power to censor us all. It's disgusting.

The hearings on this bill have been pushed to the new year, presumably with the hope that we'll forget about it over the holidays. UNLIKELY!

You can sign a petition urging Obama to veto this bill here. Use this tool to find out who your congressman is here and call them up (Calling is said to be 5 times more effective than e-mailing!) Don't open the door to censorship.If SOPA was passed, I could absolutely be sued for the stuff I posted on this blog.