Ergo...I'm Still Around

First some unfinished business...I was supposed to conclude my prior review once I saw the last episodes of Ergo Proxy. I have and I must say I was pleased. It pretty much concluded the story well, yet opened a whole new dimension of the story for a sequel. So I can't really complain.

I sort of dropped off the planet for a few months. I did some traveling to take care of some personal business. I'm back now and I thought I'd just post cause I was sort of bored and curious at the new blogger with GMail...but I really don't see any difference.

I'd have more to say but I really don't feel like typing a lot tonight. If I feel lke posting again, maybe I'll say something.

Ergo Proxy

It's been over a month since my last post, so I figure it's time for one. First I want to throw out there one of my many random reviews of animes that I watch, and in this case currently watching. The anime is called Ergo Proxy. Here's some eye candy:


Here's the plot courtesy of AnimeNewsNetwork (http://www.animenewsnetwork.com):

In a world where humans and androids, known as autoraves, live in relative peace, there exists a domed city named "Romdeau". Under the implementation of complete management control, it is a paradise where feelings are literally discarded, and the governing council dictates the way of life the citizens should live. But this utopian landscape is soon broken by a series of mystifying murders. Real Mayar, a female inspector from the Citizen Information Bureau, along with her autoreiv partner Iggy, are tasked to solve the murder cases. She is soon attacked by a creature drawn to her which is neither human nor android, and learns about the mysterious phenomena called "Awakening", an event which draws her further into the case...and to the world beyond the limits of Romdeau.

Now I started watching this after about 19 episodes were already aired. So compared to other anime just coming out, it's not the newest kid on the block, but still, fairly recent being it's only a couple months old. I'm sure that to most that doesn't seem like much, but the sheer amount of any that comes out in Japan is crazy, so it's a perfectly legit statement. The only reason I even mention this is to say that I'm fully aware that if you want a review, you'll find plenty of them already out there. I'd like to mention as well that I'm not going to go into details about anything really. This is an overall look of the series and I'm not giving away anything.

Lets break it down shall we?

Plot: Most animes nowadays seem to depend more on looks than on story and when I first saw this series pop up from the radar I immediately thought "Oh wow, this looks cool...but I wonder if the story is any good". Anyone who watches lots of anime (and there are those who watch lots more than I do, believe it or not) can confirm they say that 9 times out of 10 for any new anime they see. After seeing nearly the entire series (still waiting to get my grubby little hands on episode 22 and the final episode 23). I will refrain from stating whether the series is good in terms of storytelling, plot and character development. I will say that thus far, they've done a good job.

I have to say that, for the fast paced action fan, they may find this a bit slow. Certain episodes just seem very odd as well and confuse you, but if you wait it out, you'll be rewarded with more and more development and explanation of what is going on exactly. Overall Ergo Proxy is full of original plot and interesting and diverse characters that lend to the well used plot device of idyllic-on-the-outside-with-a-chewy-nougat-dark-center.

Art: Where to begin? Simply put, this series is visually stunning. The art is deceivingly simplistic at times, yet rich with detail and allure. It literally throws you into the utopian Romdeau, and you feel engulfed in the dark world outside the domes, ravaged by winds and shadows. This is the kind of series I'd watch just for the visuals.

Sound: The soundtrack fits in perfectly I think. I've seen good series with soundtracks that are good, but seem very detached from the series or not really in synch with the action (and I don't mean literally not synched with video). You can here classical piano to metal and it all fits within the realm of this series. Not to mention that it being 5.1 surround doesn't hurt the series at all. Makes me want to invest in a good sound system.

So at this point I'm sure one must be asking "Why did he just type so much about nothing really? There's no details whatsoever!". It's true, I didn't even mention character names. I could type out here the whole series, but to what avail? I want you to want to see it.

What's the overall score? Well, I haven't seen the last 2 episodes, so I'm not going to say whether it's an awesome series or not. I will say this: definitely an anime to check out.

Pros: My review to this point has all been pros. Visuals, sound and plot are all great.
Cons: I've spoken to some folks and they were disappointed by the stranger and slightly sillier episodes that confused them. I have to agree that those episodes weren't as entertaining as I'd hope they be, but after watching them and more of the series, you understand what was going on.

The word 'Subdued' comes to mind. The fan of fast paced action may find the contemplative and introverted storytelling to be boring. However, I don't see this as a con. It's just listed it here cause some individual may.

I find that the artistic cinematography and the above mentioned introvert nature of the characters, and how the story emerges from their perspectives and self philosophizing and investigating, causes the short number of fast paced scenes to have an even greater impact, not only because of the action portrayed, but for the climaxes of plot points as well. It really draws you into the world of Ergo Proxy more and more.

Last con is that I haven't seen the ending so I can't say 'good' or 'bad'. I've seen series that looked freakin awesome but the endings just completely messed it up. So I'm going to have to wait.

I'd say thus far: Go watch it. You won't be disappointed (at least from episode 1 to 21 ;)

-- end review

Some minor things...

I've noticed some differences in livejournal (and I know they've been around for a while). It's just I haven't felt like griping about them, but I'm compelled to say something now. What the hell is up with the ads in LJ? LJ was sort of retarded to begin with, but the ads just make it gay.

I've been also contemplating backing up all my posts, and shutting down all these accounts, like myspace and LJ and this Blogger one too. I figure if any sort of journal is to be kept, it'll be for myself and myself alone. Nobody ever really reads these, I don't think, and I never get any feedback or anything (not that I'm asking for feedback on this post). I'm just saying. It's also pretty useless I think. I rarely post and when I do it's more for expressing myself than anything else.

That is all I think for now.

"Crack"-down indeed...

It's about freakin time:

From: This Page

A city crackdown on saggy pants?

Dallas: Critics defend their right to wear drawers that droop

07:19 AM CDT on Wednesday, August 23, 2006

By TAWNELL D. HOBBS / The Dallas Morning News

The hip trend of wearing saggy pants could be at risk on the streets of Dallas.

Dallas school trustee Ron Price, with the backing of several City Council members, wants to prohibit pants that hang well below the waist. He wants an ordinance banning the look within city limits.

Mr. Price plans to address the council at today's meeting at 9 a.m. at City Hall. He said he's fed up with people who walk the streets "with their pants below their buttocks with their underwear exposed."

Several council members backed the idea Tuesday, with Bill Blaydes declaring, "It's an embarrassment to our city if we can't keep our pants up."

Mr. Price said he wants the city to create an ordinance or strengthen one that prohibits public lewdness. Such a rule would affect mainly young adults and children, some of whom get their pants several sizes too big to achieve the saggy effect.

"To me, it's disrespectful and dishonorable to women for men to walk around with their bottoms showing," Mr. Price said.

Assistant City Attorney Jesus Toscano said the city would need to research the legality of such an ordinance.

An official with the American Civil Liberties Union called it silly.

"Is it a civil liberties issue? I don't know," said Lisa Graybill, legal director for the ACLU of Texas.

"It's a silly issue, I know that."

She said that any ordinance would have to apply equally to males and females. However, she said, enforcement would probably focus on males, who are more likely to wear sagging pants.

"Why can't people just look away?" she said.

In recent years, lawmakers in Louisiana and Virginia have tried to ban sagging pants, but the efforts went nowhere, Ms. Graybill said.

The Dallas school district already prohibits pants that droop below the waistline. But Mr. Price – who's rumored to be considering a run for City Council – said it's time for the issue to be addressed citywide, saying that people shouldn't run around "like third-class citizens in a first-class city."

Council member Maxine Thornton-Reese favors a ban.

"I would like to support any ordinance or anything that would help them not to expose themselves," Dr. Thornton-Reese said.

Council member Linda Koop said she'd prefer not to see young people with their underwear showing. Council member Pauline Medrano said that while she'd love to see such a ban, she doesn't know whether the city could legislate such behavior.

Staff writers Kent Fischer and Dave Levinthal contributed to this report.

E-mail tdhobbs@dallasnews.com

-- end of article --

It's about time someone said something about this issue. I know that compared to the coming apocalypse that's bound to happen sooner or later because of the middle east and craziness in the far east, this is small potatoes. Dammit though, I'm happy someone is bringing this up tho. I'm mentioned before my disapproval of how stupid everyone looks with their asses hanging out like plumbers and seeing thongs, and boxers and indecency running amuck.

I said it before and say it again: Ass cracks are not sexy. Are plumber's sexy? No. Guess what ladies, it's not sexy on you either, no matter how hot you are or you think you are. Same goes for the guys, and as a male myself, the last thing I need to see is another guy's boxers and/or crack.

I sincerely hope it passes and that it catches on in the rest of the states.

Speaking of fashion and such...why are 80's fashions coming back?? Ladies, for the love of Christ, it was hideous the first time around IN the 1980's, DON'T BRING IT BACK! Don't wear the ugly huge sunglasses, tight's underneath shorts/skirts and little vests like Molly Ringwald wore in Pretty in Pink. Look at 1980's fashions in music videos and be weary...be very weary. It looked bad then, why the hell are people wanting to go back. I even saw girls wearing this stuff in the mall. I wanted to throw my tray at her and say "What's wrong with you!??!" (yea tray, I grabbed a bite to eat at that time).

Well, I'm starting to rant a little. The point is clear, people, keeps your pants up and don't bring back old ugly fashions. Flare jeans were bad enough (bellbottoms!). Human beings are silly enough, do we have to dress silly too?

I'm a Deviant...

I'm sure most everyone I know is familiar with www.deviantart.com , where any goofball can be an artist.

I suppose I'm the latest goofball to throw my hat into the world of amateur art. Technically I've been registered with the site since 2004, but never submitted anything. It was mostly a leaching account to allow me to download stuff from their site. Also, with school I never had the time to really sit down and draw something, or create something with photoshop or walk around taking pictures.

Also, lets face it, 90% of the "Art" on that site is just stupid. It's mostly angsty teens, elitist pricks who think they are artiste's and exhibitionism rolled into one. There are some really good artists on the site, but I think they are a minority.

So, the obvious question is, what category do I fall under? Probably the crappy amateur artist category. Actually, I don't even want to call myself an artist. I feel that if someone thinks I'm an artist, then that's all dandy. However, I'm not going to prance about saying "I'm an artist!" That's being pretentious, elitist and an all around prick.

Artists are those few individuals whose art really inspires thought and emotions and sends a message. Artists, in my opinion are folks in the caliber of DaVinci, Raffaello Sanzio (Raphael), Auguste Renior, Vincent Van Gogh and Monet.

So called artists that do nothing but try and shock people are lame. If the only reason people look at your art because it's controversial, then you need to reexamine your choice in profession. Now this is not to say that controversy and art should never be seen together. There have been controversies and shocking things in art throughout history. However, in those cases it's not ALL that the art is about. Art that is designed purely to shock is not art.

Anywho, if anyone is remotely interested in my...attempts at art, here's my profile on deviantart : http://x-abyss-x.deviantart.com/

As with all my online activities, I'm going to try and be active on it....hopefully things won't go like these blogs.

It's about time...

This is a beautiful article.

http://abcnews.go.com/US/story?id=2059099&page=1

If the link dosn't work I'm copying it in this post:

--- start ---
Student Slams Classmates in Graduation Speech
High School Senior Says School Is Full of Cheating and Drug Use

By JESSICA GOLDEN

June 9, 2006 — Kyle Stublen had something to get off his chest — and he decided to do it in front of all his classmates, as well as their friends and families.

The high school senior in Punta Gorda, Fla., has gained national attention after giving a graduation speech that depicted his school as full of cheating, drug use and preferential treatment for athletes.

"And this year I have the honor to graduate alongside so many of my peers in what I feel to be one of the most esteemed and worthy graduating classes that has had the privilege to pass through Charlotte High School," he said in his speech at the May 18 commencement.

"And our class is certainly worthy of this title, as we have gone so far as to steal college level tests from a trusting veteran educator just to attain a desirable grade," he read.

Stublen still praised his school's spirit of unity, which he said had triumphed over "felons walking across stage bearing stoles" and "cheaters receiving college credit"

Not the Speech They Expected

Stublen submitted a much tamer version of the text to school officials beforehand, but he said he intended to change his speech all along.

He had been selected to give the speech after beating out a handful of his classmates for the chance to speak at graduation.

Stublen said his actions were a last resort. "I had tried to go through all of the proper channels to address my concerns, but nobody was listening and nothing was being done. I knew I was going to have the mike to myself, and this was the opportunity to address my entire student body, parents, relatives and faculty. This was my chance to really make people aware of what is going on at Charlotte High."

Stublen — an A student with plans to attend the University of Florida in July — claimed the school's bathrooms are a haven for marijuana and cocaine users, that students steal tests from teachers and athletes skip out on coursework.

Student Leader Is Livid, Others Are Supportive

Some are calling Stublen a hero, but class president Rachel Libby is not impressed.

"Kyle's speech was a sophomoric attempt to voice his personal feelings. It was not intended to help the senior class, offer guidance or instill nostalgia, and it distracted from the dignity of the commencement ceremony," Libby wrote in an op-ed to her local newspaper, the Sarasota Herald Tribune.

Libby said she wished he had tried harder to find another way to air his complaints.

"Principal Duffy has an open door policy, and I know for a fact that Kyle never even attempted to contact him with his concerns."

Stublen admitted he spoke only to department heads, not the principal himself. But he says he's received a strong showing of support from both fellow students and parents who have told him "what you did was right and it needed to be said."

Tony Smith, Charlotte High senior class council vice president, thought Stublen's speech would improve his school. "Charlotte High is breaking," said Smith, who is the third generation in his family to attend the school. "Unless someone stands up and says its breaking, it's going to crumble."

While the school administration was furious with Stublen and withheld his diploma for five days after graduation, the school's principal is looking forward. "As the principal of Charlotte High, it is my obligation to look at his statements. If they are true, I want to make them right," Duffy said.

He has organized a task force to look into Stublen's allegations.

"I'm looking at this as a chance to make Charlotte High a better place."

--- end of article ---

Reading things like this give me a warm fuzzy feeling inside. I think it's great that this kid stood up and spoke his mind. I, for one, would love to shake his hand.

The article, for the most part, speaks for itself. I love the Class Rep's reaction tho. Sounds like those typical popular girls who has more bleach anc makeup than brains.

I also can't help but notice a certain level of disdain from the author if this article. As in, pointing out left and right how he was underhanded in his methods. I have to compliment on her ability to steer clear of stating her own opinion though. Too many journalists (profesional and amatuer) tend to do that waaaay too much.

I just thought I'd share this cause it was just too good not to.

Do as the Romans do

I'm pretty sure many people I know (which isn't all that much) are probably asking themselves "What's happened to Chris....he sort of dropped off the face of the Earth"

Well I'm still on Earth, just at a different location: Italy.

I love Italy. Perhaps, being that it's my ethnic background, I am a little biased in my opinion. However, all these tourists can't be wrong.

Mentioning tourists was quite deliberate as it segways into what I really wanted to talk about: All tourists should rot in some interesting form.

Now some people are going to think that's a little harsh. Hear me out.

First lets address the abvious point first: I know some will say "Aren't you a tourist?" The answer is "No". I'm more of a native than anything else. I didn't travel to see the typical tourist sites and fall victim to local tourist traps. Now if I was visiting Japan or some other country, one could argue my status as tourist. I'd still have to disagree on grounds that I don't act like a tourist, which brings me to my second point: Why the hell do tourist act like such asses?

They trash the streets, constantly ram and jab and bump into people (God forbid they walk a straight line and look where the hell they're going), they have no respect for places of worship, and no respect for people running the facilities they are graciously let in to take pictures of (for example, not being dressed appropriately for church or using flash when specifically almost yelled at to not use it). Also, just the attitude they have in general is unpleasant and obnoxious.

The beauty of it all is that I'mnot even talking about a specific group of tourists from a specific country. This seems to be a universal thing.

Another thing that urks me is that cities here cater WAY too much to tourists. I'm not going to pay the thieving businesses for something I can get at 1/8 of the price somewhere else.

That's why I prefe cities that aren't as huge and as much a tourist magnet like Rome.

Rome is beautiful though and there's so much to see. I any of you readers have never been, please check it out, and, for the love of God, don't be one of those tourists I mentioned ;P

New Beginnings and Consolidations

Anyone who knows me would know I'm not particularly disciplined when it comes to blogs and online journals and such. I think that my journaling inconsistencies are due to the fact that I don't think I'm particularly mastered at expressing myself via any form of literature, neither am I convinced that people are particularly interested in my experiences and/or my opinions, and keeping up with various different blog and journal sites are a big hassle.

I'm sure at this point the question "If you're not really inclined to blog and such, why create a new account on a new blogging site?" (and please forgive the over use of the word blog...)

I've reached the conclusion that I don't mind having these blogs. As an outlet for my thoughts and such, these little tools are rather useful. I hate having livejournal, and myspace and God knows what else though. I'm not going to post the same thing in different communities. It's just illogical and downright silly. So If I'm going to post, I'll make one post in one site (i.e. this one) and then I'll just link to it on the other sites.

I think that overall this should consolidate things. So I can bring three or more web communities I'm involved in into one.

I've been also considering creating a private blog for more personal thoughts and opinions. I tried that with Livejournal and it didn't take off as well as I hoped. The problem is that I think about what to write when I'm not in front of my computer. I'll just have to see if there's a way for me to make it work.

We'll see...