The hunt continues for another week. I haven’t decided how long this series will last, but one thing is certain, I’m having a lot of fun with this. I hope you are too. So, to keep things rolling along with US born tokusatsu, I thing it is now approiate to give some credit to a director that has done much for American film, and especially, American science fiction. He gave us the best of the Alien franchise, put us “on top of the world”, and recently, stole his own all-time box office record with the technically astounding Avatar, but way back in 1984 – two years before he had Ripley battle a Xenomorph Queen in a power-loader – James Cameron introduced the world to the future’s deadliest assassin and started the iconic rise of Arnold Schwarzenegger as an action star (as well as the trend of placing just his last name on the one-sheet promos, XP).
I’m a few days late with this one (ok, I’m nearly two weeks late), but I’m here now and that’s all that matters.
Think on this:
“Diversity means more than just black and white.”
Do you agree? I know I do, and so did my theatre professor which explains why he chose that very prompt to be the catalyst for our 24 Hour Play Project final. There is more to life than black and white. In fact, we aren’t all black and white. I know for a fact that I am not black. I am brown. A lot of my friends are more cream than they are white. Skin color is only part of what makes people different. In the grand scheme of things, skin color is maybe 5% of what makes up the various means of diversity. I mean, there’s sexuality, gender, economic status, genetics and heredity, abilities and disabilities, etc. Race is nothing when you look at the big picture.
It disgusted Ruto to see how much men could drink. They could brutishly guzzle down pint after pint of ale and claim that they felt as clear-headed and rational drunk as they were sober. She hated how the awful smell of beer and sweat tainted the whole tavern. She despised the lewd conversations and the barbaric groping. Unfortunately, it was the booze that brought in the customers – battle weary soldiers of the Exile resistance. She could relate to them; she was, in fact, one of them, and had it not been for her only child, she might well have been on the other side of the countertop, sitting amongst the men, sipping her share of brew.
“So, he is not here?”
“No. He left with the scouting unit to investigate last night’s attack in the valley.”
Ruto stood off in a quiet corner of the bar area with her hooded patron seated before her. They separated themselves from the activities of the tavern around them, finding in the corner a bit of privacy. Despite their efforts, the two insisted on speaking in whispers to each other, leaning in imperceptibly closer to hear one another.
The room was still about him; no breeze dared to enter the open windows on either side of the rectangular office. The heavy draperies framing the windows fell stagnate to the floor where they folded and creased in a most stately manner. Candles dimly lit the room, several in each corner with a modest chandelier looming above the hardwood in the center. Behind the desk sat a matching high-backed chair, upholstered in the finest of Myzan leather. In that chair, Baron Forn took his seat, presiding over the great study full of its elegance and antique furniture.
The quiet air was so soothing for the baron. All his cares melted away as he sank deeper into his mahogany chair. All alone he could unwind; he could forget all the difficulties of running a province of the Myzan kingdom. Unfortunately, his feelings of solitude and rest were to be short lived.
‘Tis a new month, and our exploration of America’s native tokusatsu continues. This week, we have a guest feature, compliments of our friend Nikoscream.
Enjoy and let the fond memories bring a tear of happiness to your eye…
Upper Deck, the card company, has apparently settled a lawsuit against it filed by Konami Digital Entertainment last year. This is in regards to the Yu-Gi-Oh! Trading Card Game (YGO TCG) which is owned by Konami. Upper Deck once controlled the distribution and operation of the YGO TCG outside of Japan, late in 2008, Konami filed for and was awarded a preliminary injunction against Upper Deck. Upper Deck was excused of a plot to distribute counterfeit cards of the TCG. The injunction was upheld in the United States and Europe, effectively ending Upper Deck’s control of the game worldwide and prompting the company to cancelits 2009 events.
Tuesday, having been found liable for counterfeiting by a United States District Court for the Central District of California in December, Upper Deck agreed with Konami to settle the dispute for an undisclosed some and a permanent injunction. Konami had already assumed operation and distribution of the TCG in the United States in 2009.
As a duelist myself, I’m actually pleased with this outcome. I was a little unnerved by the sudden seizure by Konami a year ago, but since, great things have come about in the game that have gotten me interested again. I’m building decks again and adding to my collection as I can. I especially like the influx formerly OCG exclusive cards and the streamlining of rulings and ban lists. Konami is giving its players what they want generally speaking and the YGO TCG, if I remember correctly, is still the #1 TCG in the world.
Two posts in one week! I am on a roll! Zasa has suggested that my contributions to the blog consist of my adventures in college. Well, that is exactly what I intend to do today!
For those of you who don’t know, I attend a very small liberal arts college in Kentucky called Berea College. What is so great about this college is the fact that they pay tuition for all of their students. We also all have jobs on campus to help pay off term bills that include our books, room/board, and other fees. In essence, I am going to a college where I could graduate virtually debt free which is a goal I am hoping to achieve. But I’ll discuss the actual college in another post at some random time in the future.
At Berea, we do what’s called short term. During the month of January, we take one class everyday while also fulfilling our labor requirements. The great thing about the class we choose to take is that it’s usually the fun classes not offered during the regular semesters. We’re talking about things like scuba diving and Danish gymnastics, knitting and Albert Hitchcock film studies. You name it, then something similar to it has more than likely been offered at some point. Many students also take the time to do classes abroad in an array of countries throughout the world. I can not wait until I get my chance to do that. Of course, being a freshman, I’m not allowed to take a short term class offered off campus or study abroad or anything cool just yet.
However, I managed to find a thrilling class that made the month of January worth my while. Whoever would have thought that I would get to start the month of January in style. I have a secret to reveal:
These are the vessels of the Starship Enterprise. Their continuing misson, to explore strange new worlds. To seek out new life and new civilizations. To boldly go where no one has gone before. And to provide us our Toku Tuesday, Vol. II Iss. 4:
Wow…long time no write. It has been almost a year (well, not really, but in about another 4 months) since my last post. I am a terrible blogger. Then again, the word blog is strange and I prefer to think of myself as a writer/contributor of my experiences to this operation when I actually have something to talk about. Luckily for the faithful readers of said blog (and those of you who are just stumbling upon this), I have something to talk about today…ART.
But not, like, in the sense of viewing art and admiring it, but rather looking at the following question:
What the crap is art, and what makes something a work of art?
The wood was quiet. Never before had Demitri felt as calm as he did in this moment. There were no worries and no cares, no bonds and no master, only serenity and bliss, only his sword and her staff under the cool shade of the glen. He felt as though the world was made only of this place, this time, and this moment therein. He reveled in the notion, nurtured it in his mind, and let it become his reality. It was, if only for a small window of existence, the truth – reality itself.
He felt free. His armor set aside, carefully piled next to that of his companion, Demitri allowed himself the luxury of feeling the forest air. He breathed it in, held it, and exhaled in slow, appreciative gulps. His metered stroll through the fallen leaves gave him ample time to soak in his surroundings – the sights, the sounds, the smells. He could taste the sweet nectars bubbling in the opening buds of the flowers. The towering trees sheltered him as he lazily made his way through their endless maze, showering him with faint sheets of light dew. The sunlight wove its way past the canopy to illuminate his path with a pale green hue.
