I looked over Katashi's body and knew what I had to do. It wouldn't be good for such a strong person to be eaten by the wolves and vultures. No, he should become one with this place. I shifted into a large, bulky form with shovel-like hands.
A few minutes of digging in the dirt and there was a sizable hole. It wasn't a perfect shape, but it would do. I shifted back into a human and dragged Katashi over to the hole. Katashi was thin, but he still felt heavy to me. This was probably due to me not being used to lifting a human in my human form.
As I was about to drop Katashi in the hole, I realized that he deserved a better sending off.
"Katashi, I hope that, if there is an afterlife, you are being rewarded in it." I said and pushed him down. When his body crashed into the bottom of the hole, I wished I was one that could give a big speech. But I wasn't. He deserved something good to send him off. Something better than my words.
"Katashi, out of respect for you, I am adding your name onto my own." I said to his body. "With this I will remember you long after everyone else has forgotten you."
I then shifted back into the form I had used to dig the hole so I could fill it back up. Afterwards, I shifted into an owl and flew away into the night. As I flew I thought about Katashi's most important message. The message about just having sex and not loving so that one could stay safe and not hurt.
I remembered Sajoki and thought about how horrible it would be if I had never loved her. At the same time, if I hadn't loved her I wouldn't hurt now. Did I really want this much hurt to be with me every time I found someone that looked good? No, no I didn't.
With that thought, I decided to follow on in Katashi's legacy.
Saturday, June 11, 2011
Sushi, Sake, and Tanuki: Another Viewpoint 5
Friday, June 10, 2011
Fahrenheit 451 Is Not About Censorship
Sometimes people have ideas about a book that are just wrong. Usually those ideas are left to a small group of friends and are never used as the correct meaning of a book. However, there are a few that slip through the cracks.
One of the examples of this is Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury. It is famously stated to be about the dangers of censorship. There is a truth that censorship does come into play here (with the firemen starting fires to burn books in this book's future).
However, this book is really about the dangers of technology. While the book does mention censorship numerous times, there is a greater fear of technology in the book and the author's life.
Notice how the wife wanting her fake life is of a very great importance. And the fact that the main character only escapes when he goes to a place of not so great technology (the escaped band of people who memorize books).
This fear of technology is very true to today's culture. Notice WoW or Second Life as examples of ways people escape into a fantasy realm.
Whether people being consumed with technology or censorship is the greater danger, the truth is that Fahrenheit 451 is about the dangers of being consumed by technology.
One of the examples of this is Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury. It is famously stated to be about the dangers of censorship. There is a truth that censorship does come into play here (with the firemen starting fires to burn books in this book's future).
However, this book is really about the dangers of technology. While the book does mention censorship numerous times, there is a greater fear of technology in the book and the author's life.
Notice how the wife wanting her fake life is of a very great importance. And the fact that the main character only escapes when he goes to a place of not so great technology (the escaped band of people who memorize books).
This fear of technology is very true to today's culture. Notice WoW or Second Life as examples of ways people escape into a fantasy realm.
Whether people being consumed with technology or censorship is the greater danger, the truth is that Fahrenheit 451 is about the dangers of being consumed by technology.
Q&A: The Green 3
Allow me to take you back into my series The Green. In this Q&A I answer why Philips "Plague" Noir was in the police station, talk about the plot of the series, and more!
If that link doesn't work, try this one:
If that link doesn't work, try this one:
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
DASH Diet Is Not a Quick Fix
Dietary Approach to Stop Hypertension (DASH) has come up as the way to make young girls stay healthy and not gain weight. I have never heard of this diet before as I don't really pay attention to diets.
Reading up about this I found out that the diet was used to STOP HYPERTENSION in older adults. Somehow it's made its way to young girls. It seems that it works. Sort of.
Reading up I also found out that the girls who lost the most weight were also exercising more. I don't think food controls your movements (unlike alcohol) and that working out might make more of an effect than this diet.
That being said, the DASH Diet is ranked as the eighth most effective diet so there is probably some truth to its madness. But it doesn't come quick.
So those looking for a quick fix: Don't do this diet.
Reading up about this I found out that the diet was used to STOP HYPERTENSION in older adults. Somehow it's made its way to young girls. It seems that it works. Sort of.
Reading up I also found out that the girls who lost the most weight were also exercising more. I don't think food controls your movements (unlike alcohol) and that working out might make more of an effect than this diet.
That being said, the DASH Diet is ranked as the eighth most effective diet so there is probably some truth to its madness. But it doesn't come quick.
So those looking for a quick fix: Don't do this diet.
S&N: The Change 5
Much time had passed for me and I was changed. It had been three years since I had started to call myself a Machine. Three years of calling The Net my master and following their orders. I walked down the hallway and saw a technician pass by me. She was a human and unimportant. Maybe I'd find her important if The Net found her important.
I didn't think about what I was going to do because The Net would not like the idea. I thought the idea dangerous, but knew it was the only way to find happiness again.
When I went into the room the woman in there looked at me.
"M-4, you've taken your time." The woman said.
"Yes." I said because the situation didn't call for a full conversation.
I lay down on the table and the woman started to do her work. Within a few minutes energy was coursing through my circuits. I had only a few nanoseconds to do what I had found out by accident. The trick was to use those precious few seconds that were usually used to check Machine systems to, instead, reprogram myself.
Doing this quickly, and carefully, I felt something in me change. There was still The Net in me, but now it was in the back of my mind. The people of The Net would check the results and reprogram me back into a normal M-4. This could not happen.
I stood up and grabbed the woman by her neck. She was a mother but she was the enemy. After twisting her neck, I threw her against the wall. I walked out and attacked the next The Net worker to make sure I wasn't restrained. An M-1 set off an alarm and I knew I had little time to make an escape.
M-2s arrived and started firing. Even if they destroyed me, they knew I could be brought back. Maybe not as me, but that didn't matter to them. With my gun I fired and made some solid hits. I still had to dodge, though, since they were Machines and not humans.
I ran and came in contact with another M-4. This one had been a Karma agent and now was forced to fight on The Net's side. It paused and that gave me enough time to damage it.
The next hour was spent running around the base and fighting. M-4s, M-2s, and the occasional humans got in my way. The humans had decided to let their Machines fight while they hid in their corners. Finally I managed to get into the parking lot. Now to find a suitable vehicle.
After looking for a few seconds I found one. I hotwired the car and drove off with gunfire in the background. Now to go find Samara if she was still alive.
I didn't think about what I was going to do because The Net would not like the idea. I thought the idea dangerous, but knew it was the only way to find happiness again.
When I went into the room the woman in there looked at me.
"M-4, you've taken your time." The woman said.
"Yes." I said because the situation didn't call for a full conversation.
I lay down on the table and the woman started to do her work. Within a few minutes energy was coursing through my circuits. I had only a few nanoseconds to do what I had found out by accident. The trick was to use those precious few seconds that were usually used to check Machine systems to, instead, reprogram myself.
Doing this quickly, and carefully, I felt something in me change. There was still The Net in me, but now it was in the back of my mind. The people of The Net would check the results and reprogram me back into a normal M-4. This could not happen.
I stood up and grabbed the woman by her neck. She was a mother but she was the enemy. After twisting her neck, I threw her against the wall. I walked out and attacked the next The Net worker to make sure I wasn't restrained. An M-1 set off an alarm and I knew I had little time to make an escape.
M-2s arrived and started firing. Even if they destroyed me, they knew I could be brought back. Maybe not as me, but that didn't matter to them. With my gun I fired and made some solid hits. I still had to dodge, though, since they were Machines and not humans.
I ran and came in contact with another M-4. This one had been a Karma agent and now was forced to fight on The Net's side. It paused and that gave me enough time to damage it.
The next hour was spent running around the base and fighting. M-4s, M-2s, and the occasional humans got in my way. The humans had decided to let their Machines fight while they hid in their corners. Finally I managed to get into the parking lot. Now to find a suitable vehicle.
After looking for a few seconds I found one. I hotwired the car and drove off with gunfire in the background. Now to go find Samara if she was still alive.
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (2010)
Do Christian themes detract from a good story?
Title: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader
Series: The Chronicles of Narnia
Based on the Book and Series by: C.S. Lewis
Director: Michael Apted
Starring: Ben Barnes, Skandar Keynes, and Georgie Henley
Rated: PG
Released: 2010
Rating: 3.5/5
Basic Plot: Edmund Pevensie, Lucy Pevensie, and Eustace go to Narnia to go on an adventure.
Christian Themes
If you are a Christian, chances are that you have already seen this film. Probably on the promise that it's full of Christian themes. It's amazing Christians praise a movie with Christian themes while they demonize movies that have Atheist/Non-Christian themes. But are the Christian themes worth it for a Christian viewer? Yes. How about for a Non-Christian viewer? They are bearable and I didn't really mind the Christian themes. However, if you're really anti-Christian, not worth it to test your blood pressure.
The Allegory
I didn't really get the allegory when I read the book (which isn't helped by the fact that I don't really understand symbols). However, the movie differs so much from the book that it isn't really worth it to understand the symbols behind the story.
Eustace Becoming a Dragon
This is a pretty cool part of the movie. I am biased, though, because I love dragons. They are just awesome. Eustace's dragon form is a decent one. The two things that bother me about it is that Eustace seems to be sad about it and how Eustace is changed back into a human by Aslan. Say what you want, but the book version made it dramatic and meaningful. In the movie, however, it's barely touched on.
Final Thoughts
This movie will be good for the Christian crowd while providing some amusement to the non-Christian crowd. If you're expecting to turn someone to Christianity with this movie, don't bother. If the person does convert because of this movie, they're gullible. One final thing: Aslan is Jesus as he states near the end of this movie.
Title: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader
Series: The Chronicles of Narnia
Based on the Book and Series by: C.S. Lewis
Director: Michael Apted
Starring: Ben Barnes, Skandar Keynes, and Georgie Henley
Rated: PG
Released: 2010
Rating: 3.5/5
Basic Plot: Edmund Pevensie, Lucy Pevensie, and Eustace go to Narnia to go on an adventure.
Christian Themes
If you are a Christian, chances are that you have already seen this film. Probably on the promise that it's full of Christian themes. It's amazing Christians praise a movie with Christian themes while they demonize movies that have Atheist/Non-Christian themes. But are the Christian themes worth it for a Christian viewer? Yes. How about for a Non-Christian viewer? They are bearable and I didn't really mind the Christian themes. However, if you're really anti-Christian, not worth it to test your blood pressure.
The Allegory
I didn't really get the allegory when I read the book (which isn't helped by the fact that I don't really understand symbols). However, the movie differs so much from the book that it isn't really worth it to understand the symbols behind the story.
Eustace Becoming a Dragon
This is a pretty cool part of the movie. I am biased, though, because I love dragons. They are just awesome. Eustace's dragon form is a decent one. The two things that bother me about it is that Eustace seems to be sad about it and how Eustace is changed back into a human by Aslan. Say what you want, but the book version made it dramatic and meaningful. In the movie, however, it's barely touched on.
Final Thoughts
This movie will be good for the Christian crowd while providing some amusement to the non-Christian crowd. If you're expecting to turn someone to Christianity with this movie, don't bother. If the person does convert because of this movie, they're gullible. One final thing: Aslan is Jesus as he states near the end of this movie.
Monday, June 6, 2011
Extras (Part 8)
Bloopers and can you see me now?
If that version does not work, try this version:
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