RahXephon And Your Tax Dollars On Guard

Ok ... So you probably came here to copy this wallpaper rather than
read the article. So what ... You still added to my blogs' hit count.

RahXephon And Your Tax Dollars On Guard


A few days ago, I placed a large (For me.) order of goodies to Amazon. As Amazon patrons know, a lot of other companies "piggyback" through Amazon and you can find some good deals on DVDs, new or used. Between Amazon, Half Price Books and Big Lots, I'm pretty well set.

One of the "piggyback" companies got their item to me in five days, a copy of RahXephon The Complete Collection: 26 episodes plus movie. When I got the item from my mailbox, I did a double take. The package had been ripped open.

I noticed the envelopes' plastic bubble insulation was intact and nothing wrong with the item. Was someone "checking" on the item? Looking at the envelope, I noticed there was no company label. Rather the return address was handwritten, not in the companys' name but that of who I assume to be the owner of the company. A quite "generic" Arabic/Islamic seeming name.

The envelope also was stamped "MEDIA MAIL (Subject to Inspection)" in two places.

Let's see:

1.) A handwritten manila envelope with bulky (Two VHS sized cases containing several discs each.) object inside.

2,) Said envelope is ripped open.

3.) "Exotic" name on envelope along with ...

4.) Two "MEDIA MAIL (Subject to Inspection)" stampings.

I wonder ...

Never before have I felt so wanted, loved, TRUSTED and protected.

So how come I don't feel so secure?

My viewing of RahXephon for the next few days is going to be "colored" by the above. Not only will I be watching for Mulians and Dolmens but also for Al-Qaeda, Homeland Security, and the U.S. (going) Postal Service.

Paranoia will destroy ya ...

Wikipedia article on RahXephon here.


Go to Jays' Tee Vee blog main page here.

Spirited Away: Giving It Another Shot

An Alice In Wonderland-like scene from Spirited Away. L-R No-Face,
Chihiro Ogino, Zeniba, & (on table) Boh with friend.

Spirited Away: Giving It Another Shot


A few years back I saw Hayao Miyazakis' anime-ted film Spirited Away ... on Cartoon Network ... AND HATED IT.

It was too darn long. Too darn weird even for a fantasy. And Puke-Faces' ... er ... uh ... No-Faces' puke fest didn't help at all. I don't know why I wasted over three hours viewing that mess. And it was a mess. Though at the time I knew why ... commercials ... stretching  a 2 hr, 5 min. film into three long agonizing hours.

I was a 'victim' of one of TV programmings' not so subtle little tricks: Show the first 20+ minutes of a flick to get you hooked then slog through commercial breaks every 10 minutes or less. Unless it's commercial free, the vast majority of films are unsuited for TV. Spirited Away is no exception.

I knew eventually I would have to give this movie another chance. Cartoon Networks' handling of it left such a bad taste, I kept putting it off for several years. Finally the taste went away & I got to thinking seriously of another try. So it was with some reluctance I scored a copy at Half Price Books & popped it in the disc machine.

BIG DIFFERENCE! The film didn't drag this time. The weirdness was more enjoyable without the latest must-have piece of junk being shoved at me. No-Faces' vomit party was only a few minutes long (I'm sure there were TWO{!} commercial breaks during that sequence when it aired!). I STILL think it's a bit on the long side (I'm a 90 minute man.) but it being a Miyazaki flick & all that goes with it, more than makes up for it.

I think I'll keep this one.


Wikipedia article on Spirited Away here.

Wikipedia article on Hayao Miyazaki here.


Go to Jays' Tee Vee blog main page here.

Haibane Renmei: Awww Rats!

This is only a parody of Haibane Renmei The show is not like this.
L-R Kuu, Rakka, Hikari, Reki, Nemu, Kana

                                            Haibane Renmei: Awww Rats!

      So I get back home after an overniter with the folks that was preceeded by attendance at Revoluticon (More on that later this week.). As is my want I tour the four Half Price Books stores in Columbus before getting back to Delaware. After visiting a "friend" (More on him & another "friend" in the afore-mentioned not yet article. By the way, the "friends" are still friends.), I make a stop at the Half Price on Lane Avenue. With Half Price, Big Lots, & Amazon (used), I can feed my movie/cartoon/anime habit on substantially less than otherwise.

      Some weeks back I purchased & reviewed an anime called Haibane Renmei. I'm glad I got it & still glad I got it when I did. I didn't think I would ever see this out of "print" show again at such a comparitively low price that I paid & certainly not on the shelves at Half Price which is pretty much catch as catch can. But there it was & at ,,,,, half the price I got it: Matching disc cases, slipcover & all!

      Had I but known ..... but then, you can't predict the future & as I've "said" before, I'm glad I got it when I got it. All the same ..... Grumble! Grumble!

      Oh yes, anime fans. If you haven't seen Haibane Renmei, I suggest you do.

My Haibane Renmei review here.

Aardvarks Plumbline blog here.

Bono to Go (PIZZA!) here.

Go to  Main Page here.