Attractive Animation

 For those of you who know me, and I am assuming most of you don’t, I am an avid fan of cartoons and anime. The other day I was watching a rerun of Yu-Gi-Oh and Yugi played the Dark Magician Girl. A buddy of mine happened by my computer as he played the card and said, “You know the subbed version is better, the translations are more accurate”, because he is one of those, but then he said, “And the Dark Magician Girl has a bigger bust in the original version.” To which I responded, “What does the Dark Magician Girl’s boobs have to do with me enjoying an episode of Yu-Gi-Oh?” He said, “Because Dark Magician Girl is hot and the original makes her hotter.” And then it occurred to me, Dark Magician Girl is hot, but she is not a real person, so is that really even a possible statement? I mean if they are not real people, then can they be labeled as attractive in any manner? An entertainment consumer who grew up watching Looney Tunes and Tom and Jerry as cartoons and then moved to a live action set of shows would say no, but there is an entire generation of people who grew up seeing Misty from Pokemon, Mimi and Rika from Digimon, Katara from Avatar: The Last Airbender, Kim Possible, etc. who would say that yes, cartoons and anime characters can be very attractive. I mean let’s be honest there is an inspiration for cosplay and a reason that they have indeed made sexy Halloween costumes for some of the aforementioned characters. I think it boils down to the mindset that a child has growing into their teenage years when things start to “set us off” in the nether-regions. The older generation was taught that cartoons are funny, maybe even insightful, but definitely not attractive. Of course, there are a few outliers whose first love onscreen was Jessica Rabbit or maybe even Lola Bunny, but for the most part you had a live action person to fall in love with. But for my generation, we were never told that an animated character wasn’t attractive that way. We watched Megara from Hercules and Mulan and as a child thought “What a cool person”, but as we got older thought, “What a woman”. And of course, l am just talking from a male perspective. Let’s not forget, there had to be a young girl who just fawned over a bad boy like Beauty and the Beast’s Gaston, or a brooder like Avatar’s Zuko. So I would say yes, animated characters can be attractive and whether Dark Magician Girl has big boobs or not, I was always a fan. But that is just one man’s opinion. Thanks for listening to me ramble. I appreciate it. See you next time.

Turkey Day is Skippable

Good news for all those out there who already have their tree standing and decorated, Thanksgiving is a totally skippable holiday. This does not come lightly, mind you. I was one of those true believers that every holiday should have their day in the spotlight. I fought for years saying that all these supermarkets were wrong in putting their Christmas stuff out before Halloween was even over, but no longer. I am on the bandwagon that we should go straight from Halloween to Christmas. I mean if you think about it, the reasons are obvious. First of all, most “Thanksgiving” decorations are really just Autumn-themed decorations. Leaves, some hay, some pumpkins, a cornucopia, and, of course, turkeys. So just keep your Autumn decorations up until about the middle of November and then switch over to Christmas lights and tinsel. Second, has anyone ever made an actual Thanksgiving song. I mean not to say that Halloween has a lot of bangers, but at least there are a few. Something about mashing monsters or smashing graveyards, I don’t know. And then, of course, we all have our favorite Christmas Carol out of the hundreds. But I don’t think there is a single Thanksgiving song out there. I mean there have been a few attempts, and in actuality “Jingle Bells” was supposed to be a song sung at Thanksgiving, but let’s be honest, it really suits Christmas better. Third, and I know this is going to be a real heart breaker, but that whole fairy tale about the first Thanksgiving feast with the pilgrims and the Native Americans is just a nice story to tell the young ones, because it didn’t quite go down like Charlie Brown would have us believe. The meal was a peace agreement, but I don’t really think it lasted long. Worse than that, by all historic accounts and research by food historians, there was not any turkey served at that feast. None. So, our long-held tradition of what we serve at Thanksgiving is just a made-up tradition—just like every other tradition, but I digress. Last, do I have to point out how many other holidays have a large meal accompanying them? I mean many people enjoy a good meal on Easter, there is the big cook-outs of Independence Day, more candy than any one person needs at Halloween, and then, to end the year, there is usually a grand Christmas feast to accompany all the presents. So, do we really need another day to be gluttons? I certainly don’t think so. I think the stores and Hallmark channel have had it right for many years. From now on let’s work on getting over our candy hangovers from Halloween by getting straight into the Christmas spirit. For the next years to come, let’s skip Turkey Day and just start working off that extra candy weight by running around Christmas shopping and let’s all be thankful that there is now one less holiday to irritated by those distant relatives. But that is just one man’s opinion. Thanks for listening to me ramble. I appreciate it. See you next time.

Long Hair ≠ Rebel

 It’s time for a haircut. I can hear every boss now. If you are a gentleman in any sort of white-collar work field, you are expected to keep shorter hair. But why? Their reasoning is that long hair on a guy looks unkempt and makes that guy look like a rebel. However, it is perfectly fine for a woman to have her hair long, as long as it is neat. Double standard much. Now, where I work, they are pretty relaxed about your hair, and even when mine is longer, I keep it clean and combed. I think there needs to start being less focus on physical appearance and more focus on character. I don’t care if you look like a young Billy Ray Cyrus, as long as your personal qualities hold up, you will not be bothered by me about how long your hair is, even if on the weekends you ride your Harley fast and loud. That is your personal time and I will kindly mind my own business. But that is just one man’s opinion. Thanks for listening to me ramble. I appreciate it. See you next time.

Cell Phones for Infants

 Is it just me or is the average age of a cell phone user getting younger and younger. I mean I have seen toddlers still in diapers watching a smart phone bigger than they are. It raises the question though, how young is too young for a cell phone? Does being able to operate one make you eligible to have one. Because in this technology age, younger and younger people are becoming literate in technology. There are 4-year-olds that can type numbers and call someone, but does this make them mature enough to be doing those things. Should maturity even be a factor? After all, there are 30-somethings that are not mature enough to own a phone and use it properly. In saying that, does proper use come into play? People of any age can use their parents’ phone to accidently order things online or dial a wrong number. I mean I would not find it far-fetched if a toddler dialed the wrong number and had a complete conversation with a total stranger. How long before we are literally seeing a scene from “Look Who’s Talking”? I feel there are a lot of factors that have to be weighed before anyone gets a phone. For me, I don’t see anyone under the age of ten with a cellphone, and, even then, there are many questions that have to be answered before the phone company sends the box in the mail. But that is just one man’s opinion. Thanks for listening to me ramble. I appreciate it. See you next time.

Ooh! A Piece of Candy

 It is the same old story every year—kid goes trick or treating and then, as soon as they get home, every piece of candy has to be thoroughly inspected to make sure there aren’t any razor blades or poison candy in the mix. It is a story as old as…well at least as old as me because my parents did it too. Hello helicopter parents. I promise the candy is fine. No one is trying to kill your kid. Now, if you want to go through the candy and find half opened packs because of germs, or if you want to go through and take your dad tax, or even if you want to do your youngster a favor and remove all the raisins, toothbrushes, pennies, and zero bars, because who likes that candy, those are all fine reasons to rummage through your kid’s candy. Otherwise relax, it’s just a piece of candy. But that is just one man’s opinion. Thanks for listening to me ramble. I appreciate it. See you next time. Oh and Happy Halloween.