Afro Samurai - One Badass Anime

Afro Samurai (voiced by Academy Award® nominated Samuel L. Jackson) is an epic tale of a black samurai's hunt for Justice (voiced by Ron Perlman: Hellboy Alien Resurrection ) who murdered his father. With music score by The RZA ( Kill Bill, Wu Tang Clan), Afro Samurai blends traditional Japanese culture, funky technology and hip hop to create a brutally fresh entertainment experience.

Plot Summary:

The TV anime series is set in a "futuristic, yet feudal Japan," and stars a samurai named Afro for his hair. The story follows Afro as he tries to avenge his father's murder. In the world of Afro Samurai, it is said that the one who becomes "Number One" will rule the world, wielding powers akin to a god. Someone becomes Number One by killing the previous Number One and taking his ceremonial headband. However, the only rule in this world is that only the "Number Two" (also designated by a sacred headband) is allowed to fight the "Number One." The downside of this is that anyone (and typically everyone) can challenge and try to kill the Number Two, to gain the right to move forward and challenge Number One. Afro Samurai's father was the old Number One, until he was challenged by a gunman named "Justice" (who was then Number Two), who fought him in a duel to become the new Number One. At the time Justice challenged his father, Afro had only been a child. Justice severed his father's head right in front of the young Afro. Now an adult, Afro Samurai is the current Number Two and a master swordsman; he travels the road seeking revenge on Justice, the current Number One.

Lengthy flashbacks interspersed throughout the story detail how Afro rose from frightened boy fleeing the death of his father, to master swordsman, and eventually to become the current "Number Two", while the story in the present deals with the adult Afro making his way to the mountain top keep of the "Number One" to duel Justice, while at the same time the mysterious cult known as the "Empty Seven Clan" sends various agents to kill Afro and take his Number Two headband.

A new season (referred to as "Afro Samurai: Resurrection") has been announced for 2009 on Spike TV.

Afro Samurai Wikipedia Entry

We just bought this on Blu Ray (the photo at the top is linked to the Amazon page). I haven't had the chance to watch it but I am excited to watch it over in HD. Even for cartoons/animations, it being in high definition looks amazing, so vibrant and crisp!

Palin Is Ready? Please.

Written by Fareed Zakaria - Editor of Newsweek International, columnist

Will someone please put Sarah Palin out of her agony? Is it too much to ask that she come to realize that she wants, in that wonderful phrase in American politics, "to spend more time with her family"? Having stayed in purdah for weeks, she finally agreed to a third interview. CBS's Katie Couric questioned her in her trademark sympathetic style. It didn't help. When asked how living in the state closest to Russia gave her foreign-policy experience, Palin responded thus:

"It's very important when you consider even national-security issues with Russia as Putin rears his head and comes into the airspace of the United States of America. Where--where do they go? It's Alaska. It's just right over the border. It is from Alaska that we send those out to make sure that an eye is being kept on this very powerful nation, Russia, because they are right there. They are right next to--to our state."

There is, of course, the sheer absurdity of the premise. Two weeks ago I flew to Tokyo, crossing over the North Pole. Does that make me an expert on Santa Claus? (Thanks, Jon Stewart.) But even beyond that, read the rest of her response. "It is from Alaska that we send out those ..." What does this mean? This is not an isolated example. Palin has been given a set of talking points by campaign advisers, simple ideological mantras that she repeats and repeats as long as she can. ("We mustn't blink.") But if forced off those rehearsed lines, what she has to say is often, quite frankly, gibberish.

Couric asked her a smart question about the proposed $700 billion bailout of the American financial sector. It was designed to see if Palin understood that the problem in this crisis is that credit and liquidity in the financial system has dried up, and that that's why, in the estimation of Treasury Secretary Hank Paulson and Fed chairman Ben Bernanke, the government needs to step in to buy up Wall Street's most toxic liabilities. Here's the entire exchange:

COURIC: Why isn't it better, Governor Palin, to spend $700 billion helping middle-class families who are struggling with health care, housing, gas and groceries; allow them to spend more and put more money into the economy instead of helping these big financial institutions that played a role in creating this mess?

PALIN: That's why I say I, like every American I'm speaking with, were ill about this position that we have been put in where it is the taxpayers looking to bail out. But ultimately, what the bailout does is help those who are concerned about the health-care reform that is needed to help shore up our economy, helping the--it's got to be all about job creation, too, shoring up our economy and putting it back on the right track. So health-care reform and reducing taxes and reining in spending has got to accompany tax reductions and tax relief for Americans. And trade, we've got to see trade as opportunity, not as a competitive, scary thing. But one in five jobs being created in the trade sector today, we've got to look at that as more opportunity. All those things under the umbrella of job creation. This bailout is a part of that.

This is nonsense--a vapid emptying out of every catchphrase about economics that came into her head. Some commentators, like CNN's Campbell Brown, have argued that it's sexist to keep Sarah Palin under wraps, as if she were a delicate flower who might wilt under the bright lights of the modern media. But the more Palin talks, the more we see that it may not be sexism but common sense that's causing the McCain campaign to treat her like a time bomb.

Can we now admit the obvious? Sarah Palin is utterly unqualified to be vice president. She is a feisty, charismatic politician who has done some good things in Alaska. But she has never spent a day thinking about any important national or international issue, and this is a hell of a time to start. The next administration is going to face a set of challenges unlike any in recent memory. There is an ongoing military operation in Iraq that still costs $10 billion a month, a war against the Taliban in Afghanistan and Pakistan that is not going well and is not easily fixed. Iran, Russia and Venezuela present tough strategic challenges.

Domestically, the bailout and reform of the financial industry will take years and hundreds of billions of dollars. Health-care costs, unless curtailed, will bankrupt the federal government. Social Security, immigration, collapsing infrastructure and education are all going to get much worse if they are not handled soon.

And the American government is stretched to the limit. Between the Bush tax cuts, homeland-security needs, Iraq, Afghanistan and the bailout, the budget is looking bleak. Plus, within a few years, the retirement of the baby boomers begins with its massive and rising costs (in the trillions).

Obviously these are very serious challenges and constraints. In these times, for John McCain to have chosen this person to be his running mate is fundamentally irresponsible. McCain says that he always puts country first. In this important case, it is simply not true.

PostGlobal co-moderator Fareed Zakaria is editor of Newsweek International, overseeing all Newsweek's editions abroad. He writes a regular column for Newsweek, which also appears in Newsweek International and often The Washington Post.

Click here for website.

Tina Fey Does Sarah Palin Again

The ending is especially hilarious.

Wish List - Gold Tree

I'm amazed by this tree. It's stunning! I would totally do the feather decoration with it as in the photo because that looks SO GOOD! I did always want a white tree and to decorate it with silvery things but this golden tree is like a pure dream and fantasy.

Meet Mr. Legs

This was hanging out near my front door. I thought it was weird this "spider" didn't have the 2 different body parts like other spiders, the cephalothorax and abdomen. Because of the legs, I googled it up as a daddy long legs and found out that this thing isn't a true daddy long legs or a true spider for that matter. It is called a Harvestman, belonging to arachnids but the Dromopoda sub class and the Opiliones order. They only have one pair of eyes and are not venomous.

But if you ask me, if it has 8 legs then it's a freakin' spider! But that is probably why I'm not a scientist. It IS good to know they aren't poisonous though.

Wish List - Chill Vases and Decorating Gems

Chill Vases. Absolutely beautiful! Love the ice look. This would really help set the silver and ice tone of my table! It seems I really like Crate and Barrel!

These look delicious! I'm glad I don't have anymore babies in the house, would be a hazard! I would like to use these in flower vases and also scattered around the table in some creative organic way.


I especially loves these Silver Ice pieces. I want to also scatter this around the table but use them in little candle holders as well.

My Wish List

I'll be editing this every so often but will make a new post of any new additions. The photos are linked to the places that sell them, so click away if you find something you like as well!

1.

I would love to have this set placed above the fireplace on the mantle.


2.
Very sleek and chic. Perfect for an altar as well.


3.

I love modernized Asian furniture.


4.

I love the table but don't really care for the chairs, maybe if it had different cushions... I can't decide which dining set I like better out of this one or the first one.

This is a part of the same collection as the dining set above.


5.
Glass is so simple yet so pretty when it includes a little texture! I'm on a mission to decorate my dream table setting and that would be something that compliments my raw vegan food well with a shimmery silver and ice theme, reminiscent of what maybe an Ice Fairy Queen would have her table to look like.


6.
Still on the silver and ice table setting theme - this is exactly what I am talking about!

Yes, I most definitely need that bowl as well from the collection. It's a sign, there's raw food in there!


7.
I think this particular set as a whole is a little bit TOO textural and noisy for my tastes, but just having the bowls would be a nice contrast to the above glass dinner plates. Plus the dinner plates that I like don't seem to offer any smaller bowls except the huge one.


8.
Absolutely beautiful! Love the ice look. This would really help set the silver and ice tone of my table!


9.
I'm amazed by this tree. It's stunning! I would totally do the feather decoration with it as in the photo because that looks SO GOOD! I did always want a white tree and to decorate it with silvery things but this golden tree is like a pure dream and fantasy.

...

To be forever continued...

The School's Neighbor

Next door to my son's school lives this horse. I now realize that I really need to start bringing my camera with me wherever I go - you never know what you could run into! This photo was taken by cell phone. I really wanted to get a great zoomed in high quality photo. Maybe next time!

Scholastic Closes Book on Bratz Dolls Line

I never did like them skanky looking dolls...

Children's book distributor drops brand from roster.

The largest distributor of children's books to Canadian schools has decided to yank all Bratz books from its roster after parents and psychologists complained that the controversial dolls promoted "precocious sexuality."

Scholastic Inc. distributes its products through school-based book fairs and clubs, selling books to students and teachers at discounted prices. But after a persuasive North American campaign spearheaded by the Boston-based Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood, the company has relented and pulled books and products featuring the popular Bratz dolls.

The company confirmed yesterday that its fall product line for schools no longer includes the Bratz brand -- a switch from last year, when Scholastic said the books appealed to "reluctant readers" and its job was to "offer materials that appeal to children where they are, not where we would like them to be."

In a statement yesterday, Scholastic declined to comment on Bratz books, saying "the books we offer have been selected by an experienced team of editors who consult with our teacher and librarian advisors and review thousands of titles from all publishers.

"Our goal has been and continues to be to provide quality, affordable books that meet the wide range of reading levels and interests of today's students and help every child develop a love of reading."

The Bratz book line is a spinoff of MGA Entertainment Inc.'s top-selling fashion dolls, which have gained notoriety for their skimpy wardrobe of miniskirts, high-heel boots and feather boas.

A New Yorker article about the powerhouse of marketing behind the brand described the appearance of the dolls as being akin to "kept girls," "pole dancers on their way to work at a gentlemen's club," and, most critically, wearing "the sly, dozy expression of a party girl after one too many mojitos."

The brand has become so popular that it has spun off into a full product line. In addition to books such as Lil' Bratz Dancin' Divas and Lil' Bratz Catwalk, Scholastic last year also offered the Bratz: Rock Angelz computer game so that girls can create their own fashion magazine and the Bratz Fashion Designer stencil kit for elementary students to design "the perfect purse."

Since February, 2007, Scholastic and its Canadian subsidiary received more than 5,000 e-mails as part of the anti-Bratz campaign.

"We're just really thrilled and it really attests to the power of people working together to try and make change," said campaign co-ordinator Susan Linn.

"The Bratz are a highly sexualized brand and when a brand is marketed in a school, it has that school's endorsement. Essentially, schools were saying to their students, 'This is a good way to portray girls, these are models that you should strive for.' "

Ms. Linn, a psychologist and author of The Case for Make-believe: Saving Play in a Commercialized World, said she was particularly troubled with Scholastic's apparent tacit endorsement of the Bratz brand.

"Scholastic has such a stellar reputation with parents and with teachers and for Scholastic to be supporting and promoting this kind of sexualization, it was very troubling."

Edmonton mother Wendy Boyko was among the thousands who flooded Scholastic with their objection to Bratz books for sale in schools. She said she's "very, very impressed" by the book distributor's decision.

"For me, my main concern was just the appearance, the makeup and the clothing being more suggestive than necessary ... and targeting that to little girls who don't need to be looking like that," said Ms. Boyko, whose daughters are ages five and eight.

MGA Entertainment, based in California, was not available to comment.

Copyright © 2007 CanWest Interactive, a division of CanWest MediaWorks Publications, Inc.. All rights reserved.

http://www.nationalpost.com/news/story.html?id=798101

Proud Momma of a Super Reader!

Today we went to Gavin's Open House to talk with his teacher in his classroom. I've always known Gavin was an amazing reader for his age but it was nice to hear a confirmation of it from a teacher. She told us that he was actually taken out of class to be tested for his reading and the lady who was testing him came back to the classroom to tell her that she needed another book because Gavin knew all of the words. He passed the 1st and 2nd grade levels, so in all Gavin reads on a 3rd grade level and he is only in the 1st grade. She let us know that not everyone gets picked to be tested like that! I'm so proud of him!

Probiotics - The Good Bacteria

Soon after I ventured into raw vegan foods for nutrition, I learned more about "good bacteria" to help with digestion and overall health. I still have yet to get fully into making my own sauerkraut and other fermented foods like nut cheeses, but I did have a go at making my own kombucha tea with a scooby awhile back. I don't really care for the taste, but I may try again and add in some different flavors like the kombucha tea sold in health food stores.

But until then I find the Pearls probiotics by Enzymatic Therapy extremely convenient. I got a hold of the Intensive Care kind from Lucky Vitamin. What's cool about the Pearls is that the "shell" shields the friendly bacteria from being destroyed by stomach acid so it can arrive safely in your intestines!

What's on the box: The power of yogurt - intensified. The Smarter Probiotic. Gets where you need it, when you need it, fast. Just one daily - take anytime. No refrigeration. More strains for deep intestinal care. Long term colon health. Maximum control of gas, bloating, and occasional constipation. Dairy free.

Continued on back: You know when you need serious support! When your digestive system is calling out for intensive relief, go beyond basic and turn to Pearls IC. Intensive care probiotics provide more strains to promote deep intestinal care and long-term colon health. Pearls IC features True Delivery Technology which guarantees active cultures SURVIVE stomach acids, ARRIVE in your intestines and THRIVE to provide exceptional support. The essence of better health - delivered. 1 Billion CFU Proprietary Probiotic Blend: Lactobacillus (acidophilus, rhamnosus) and Bifidobacterium (bifidum, lactis, longum, breve).

This one I bought for my son - Buddy Bear Probiotic by Renew Life. It's chewable with natural orange flavor. 1 Billion CFU Probiotic Blend: Lactobacillus (acidophilus) and Bifidobacterium (bifidus and infantis). I haven't seen if my son can swallow the Pearls yet but will let him try soon. For someone who hates swallowing pills and tends to always gag and choke, I personally find the Pearls extremely easy to swallow and totally not a big deal at all.

So why take probiotics anyway?

Digestive health

Active live cultures supply relief from occasional gas, bloating, constipation, sensitive stomach and lactose intolerance.

Immune health

Ensures your body is not weighed down by toxins which may limit your immune defenses.

Skin health

Fights free radicals and environmental toxins which can have negative effects on your skin.

Here is also some useful information about the benefits of probiotics.

Full Moons and Spiderwebs

Trying out my new tripod outside. I love seeing the craters on the moon, but then it makes me ponder about huge asteroids hitting Earth.

Caught in the act of web spinning.

It's underbelly is kind of interesting. Take a closer look.

Yep, it's web is monstrous. It must go! I guess it got tired of that spot on the side of the garage. My front yard is a little bit too in my face though!
(The grass is being mowed soon! Leave me alone!)

My New Besom

I've been waiting for years to find a besom (or witch's broom) that I really like and I think I have finally stumbled upon it. Meet my new besom!


One of the things a besom is used for is to cleanse and consecrate, a very important step in creating a sacred space. Though this particular artistic broom isn't meant for "housework", it will do just fine for my rituals. Anyone have any ideas of a cool name for it? I tend to name the things I use for rituals and this one seems to fit the bill as well. My Book of Shadows is named Sarah - a name that seems to have a mysterious connection with me concerning magic in a past life. But for the besom, I am looking for something a little more... cool?

I am leaning towards names like Twitch or Twilight.

My Wii Fit Age!

I am so terribly embarrassed to say that when I started out using the Wii Fit, my "Wii Fit Age" was an astounding 38 years (I'm 28!). This is based on a couple of tests that you have to do. I am happy to announce that TODAY my Wii Fit Age is now an impressive 21! What a huge improvement a daily routine can deliver!

I truly love doing yoga with the balance board. Because of it, I am able to specifically see if I am balancing myself properly with the poses. Since I don't go to yoga classes, this is the next best thing in being critiqued in your poses. For a majority of the poses, I am considered the full rank of a "Yoga Master" while the others I am one star/notch down at a "Yoga Trainer".

There are 2 yoga poses that I totally suck on though but I am getting so much better, at least I'm not only one star with them anymore. One star is "Unbalanced". I struggle really hard just to get 2 stars, but before even if I struggled really hard, it just wasn't happening! I still haven't even unlocked all of the yoga poses though, but my son has for his account. He's a monster!

Strength training is not my forte. If you look at my color coded graph of the types of exercises I'm doing every day, the color for strength is barely there! My upper strength has always sucked. My wrists and ankles have always been so weak! Seriously, just attempting one push-up makes my wrists feel like they are about to BREAK! I kid you not! I am slowly starting to do more and more strength exercises though. I hate being weak, about time I do something about it.

In The Fairy Garden

These are the newest addition to my potted flowers. I completely messed with the color levels to create a fairy essence. The flowers are really purple with green leaves. I quite like how the effect turned out. The top photo especially looks like something out of a fairy world and it begs to be clicked to enlarge for full effect.

Wish Upon a Moon

Ever since I was a child, I've always said my prayers and sent my wishes up to the Moon as a sort of amplifier for it to reach God/dess. I can remember having to have the Moon in view in my window as I knelt down to say my prayers. If it wasn't in view, my prayers felt a little empty and weak. Looking back on what I know now, I think I instinctively knew the Moon meant more to my soul. I definitely think I have a past life connection that considered the Moon an important aspect of spirituality to have such a strong connection to it as a child.

Taken tonight. I'm very impressed that my little camera managed to get the details so nicely without any special lenses.

"Please Stay Around"...

I told her, and she agreed (at least for now).

Crinkle and Lace Boots

My new boots that I absolutely LOVE.

Loving the Wii and Wii Fit

The Wii Fit if so neat! It's a great way to set fitness goals and visually keep track of how you are doing with graphs and test results. Silly me, it didn't even register in my head that the Balance Board weighs also! I think I associated all fitness games with Yourself Fitness and other fitness games where you have to weigh with your own scale and manually enter that information in each time. I feel like the Balance Board is magic! Ha!

I haven't done much at all of ALL that is available to do, but the hula hoop game really makes me sweat! I try my best to get as many spins in as possible and then all of a sudden, you are sweating! You get to make your own little character beforehand (to use with other games as well) and doing that is really fun and cute. Gavin made his character with a beard! I think because of that cartoon The Misadventures of Flapjack - because men with beards are the TRUE ADVENTURERS!

This is my "Mii", aren't I cute in the Wii World? And to the right is Gavin's "Mii" with his beard, funny!

So "cute" seems to be my word for the whole Wii thing though. The graphics are very kiddy with it being more of a kiddy system, but of course that is why we bought a Wii in the first place for Gavin. But for the more "beautiful" games that can be played in High Definition, if available on the PS3 we are definitely going that route. It just seems a shame to downgrade on the quality of how a game looks if you can see and play it in yummy HD.

But I love the whole cutesy thing, so Wii Fit is wonderful to me! Gavin enjoys the Wii Fit as well, today in all he racked up a whole hour worth of "working out". Somewhere in there, the game told him to take a break and to make sure he drinks enough water! Ha!

I'm off to rack up some more minutes in my Wii "Fit Bank"...

My Silly Sweaty Boy