A Hole in the Bucket

Everyone's at it... -- Lily Allen

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I dropped my computer yesterday. It hurt my heart. At the same time, I wasn't all too surprised. I'm rather clumsy when it comes down to it, and that was just another drop in the bucket. The hole comes in when I headed over to the nearest Best Buy and purchased a new Apple MacBook. Mad fat cash right there.

I'm happy with it, though, and it's everything I've ever wanted it to be. Interestingly enough, their programs are cheaper than Microsoft's, and more user friendly. So... here's to me being happy (if a little broke).

Wolverine, Origins

Cocaine in Montreal and back out on the plane, baby... -- Smoke Baby, Hawksley Workman

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I saw the new X-men Origins movie. I liked it. There were some questions it brought up though, and I'll say them now:

First, I didn't know that Emma Frost had a sister.
Second, I didn't realise Scott had been involved.
Third, I wondered why Emma didn't use her Telepathy, though I suppose she did learn more about that later from the Professor.
Fourth, I wanted a relief from the sexual tension between Sabertooth and Wolverine.
Fifth, and this isn't necessarily a complaint so much as a healthy note, sometimes the oversimplification of complicated plots can lend more to a show and storyline than anything else.
Sixth, William Stryker's future self (as portrayed in X3) is a lot different than in this movie... You don't understand why until the end, and that's all fine, but how did he get shorter?
Seventh, What happened to all the mutants left in cryogenic stasis?

If you haven't yet seen the movie by the time you read this, I'm sorry, just ignore the fact that I've said it all. However, if you are considering not seeing the movie on account of what I've said, please, do go see it. It's quite worthy of a movie; it is a small plug in the lifeline of the great X-MEN universe (albeit a whispy collection of cannon and non-cannon events).

On the whole, I enjoyed it, and found myself wanting more. Even if the overall solution to the complicated myriad plot-lines was a little... oversimplified. I've still yet to learn how cannon it all is. I'd like to think it is, though I'll be left to find the answer.

Piers My Heart and Let Me Bleed

To the West then I looked...
And saw a deep dale - Death, as I believe,
Dwelled in that place, along with wicked spirits... -- Piers Plowman C Version, William Langland

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Lately the weather has taken a turn for the worse. It's April, damnit, but there's been no rain. All we've seen for the past week or so is the impending doom of rain and terrible storms, but nothing has come of it yet. It's been ... terrible to say the least. Such pressure has been building up all around the country side and in the city, and not just barometrically. I can't begin to wonder what it's side-along with.

For a long time, and even still, many of the denizens here believe that our city is protected from several things by an impenetrable bubble of Spirit power fueled by the prayers and beliefs of the community. I can't help but agree, though sometimes it reacts in strange ways. The Barrier has often been accused of keeping rain out of the area where we need it most, and storms that should be hitting us straight on dissipate as they approach the borders, or create holes and go around us entirely. There are times, though, that people get together to correct the misalignment of the Barrier, and rain happens almost immediately. You all must think I'm insane for writing about such an arguable subject. Surely there's no such thing in the world; for all intensive purposes, it does sound improbable. However, it's not a joke -- I'm quite serious when I say the faith of the citizens of this Texas town is strong, whether they realise it or not.

When it comes down to what's been going on lately, there's been unrest in animals of all sorts, and people have been rather tense about the "uncontrolled government spending" and the "Tea Parties" and other things. The weather has built up some incredible pressure and throughout the night will shudder and send shock waves through the sky. Last night was the worst yet, and while some rain broke out, I can only see it as the inevitable release of such accumulated energy... On the same note, I can only hope that things don't turn sour for our city. Let rain come soon, and gently; not only to the dried up grounds, but to the people and their spirits.

Into the Waters

Desire, it carries me on;
My exile has come and has gone. -- Frustration, the Whip

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I finally got back into the pool today, after what seemed an eternity of being out of town, the pool being under construction, and being injured. Everything's great. The pool felt amazing, and clean, and was brand new, and I practiced some dives even. I feel good. The funk I've been in for the past few weeks is finally starting to fade away, and that's a good thing.

I do have to say, I didn't get that promotion at work I was aiming for, but that's alright, too. I can't imagine how busy I'd be -- and not to mention stressed, had I gotten it instead of the other person. I want to see it as a blessing for right now, even though I'm still a bit bitter. That should go away.

I've been thinking a lot about moving, though. Moving away from home, but I know what that's like, and what that entails. I can't imagine doing it right now, either, though. It seems like there's a lot on my mind I can't seem to stop thinking about... College is one of those. I need to get back into school. Wish me luck.

Imperial America

-- I've been doing a lot of thinking lately, and this is what came up... I don't know where it will go from here, but at least I've got my mind going...

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I've been around a lot lately. Around the country, that is. Things still look the same as they did a few years ago. For the most part. There are major differences, of course, including more hoodlums and more ghettos. More neon signs and more multi-lane high-ways. More foreigners and less respect for elders.

Why the imperialism?
Perhaps it's because they want a more world-friendly outlook, but the world itself isn't friendly looking back.
Perhaps it's because they want to have more exposure to different cultures, but the other cultures are becoming more like us.
Perhaps it's because foreign makes are the best available, but American-crafted items used to be world-renown for their quality.
Perhaps it's because they think we're the only ones who can save the world, but they're the reason most wars didn't end ten years ago.

So, why Imperial America? Shouldn't it just be the measurement system that retains that name? I don't mind it; in fact, it sounds rather lovely, Imperial Units. Of course, those weren't American to begin with, anyway.

What does it mean to be an American? So many people these days argue that and "American", for all intensive purposes, could be anyone from the Western Continents, yet we continue to demand the right of the name, and the precedence over other states. What does it mean to be a citizen of the United States?

Even with all the changes we've had over the past year, the economic downfall included, there haven't been many defining moments for the U.S., and there should be. There should have been. What defines us as a country is brought from other places. And that's fine. We've been known as the "melting pot" of all the world cultures... but what defines us? What makes us different?

Where are the scientists from the last century? Where are the learned scholars in D.C.? Where are the mechanical pioneers from Big and Bold U.S.A., those Shining Stars of the past?

Who are we?
Who am I?

From the Front Lines

We laughed off the quick tricks
and the old men with limp dicks -- The Bus Mall, The Decemberists

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This entry is coming to you from the new device, the nintendo DSi. Haven't heard of it? Well it's a lot like the initial psp's; I say that because I haven't touched the things (as much as I've wanted to) since I sold my initial one back in 2006. At any rate, it does music and picrure playback and has an SD card slot, all the things the psp was capable of. The diference, however, is that it can take its own pictures via 2 built in cameras, that's a whole two more than the psp, and one more than the iPhone. It can save these pictures to the standard sized SD card, which accepts high capacity and mini-adapters: I have a 2gig mini SD in mine, using an adapter right now. This uniqueness of course allows for the transfer of pictures to your computer. Interesting to note is that the outer camera is 3 megapixels, and the iner one is .3, both with a resolution of 640x480 [nintendo-dsi.org/info]; take it from me, these photos aren't half bad.

Furthermore, the new DSi has 133megahertz ARD processor and a now 16mb RAM - a vast improvement over the original DS. This is mostly used for the editing of photos and music, as well as the Opera-based browser that I am using right now. The future of hand-held gaming for both Nintendo and Sony are far from diving head-first ibto the digital ranges of the iPhone, but there is hope that a slow but steady entrance will come. I'll see about uploading some of my pictures once I get the chance, and bloggong more about this, but as for now - mostly due to an injury to my touch-screen hand - I'm signing off.

The Land of Rain

If I could escape, I would... -- Sweet Escape, Gwen Stefani

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I've been spending a lot of time here in Washington, of course, I am a technical prisoner to Fort Lewis, but that hasn't stopped me from enjoying my stay.

I haven't had a chance -- a real chance to talk to my best friend Mike for so long, that I think I had nearly forgotten what it was like. Nervous ambiguity washed over me in the airport only once, but mostly excitement... and apprehension at flying -- something I hadn't done in seven years or so.

Entering the area was short of amazing. I happened to have the [un?]lucky experience of sitting between two pilots, and one happened to be from Seattle! He talked about the mountains and the sights and places I should go, and really helped me out when the turbulence got bad (there was a terrible stall at one point) by assuring me it was alright, my embarrassment aside.

If you want to see more pictures from my trip, and perhaps buy some prints (selfless plug), head over to my deviantArt site at www.toranohisui.deviantart.com and check it out. The picture from above is also there.

Wednesday I'll be home if the Lord wills it, and resting in Texas. Still this month is full of busy travel, so... wish me luck, and keep me in your prayers as well as Mike and his family. Lots of love from Fort Lewis.