An Encounter at Gamers: A Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya/Lucky Star Crossover Fan Fiction

Which one is a figment of the others' imagination?

An Encounter at Gamers

A Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya/Lucky Star Crossover Fan Fiction

by

C V Ford


There is a fifth dimension, beyond that which is known to man. It is a dimension as vast as space & timeless as infinity. It is the middle ground between light & shadow, between science & superstition, & it lies between the pit of mans' fears & the summit of his knowlege. This is the dimension of imagination. It is an area which we call ... The Twilight Zone.

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Submitted for your approval ... A pair of young ladies who, though they've never met, intimately know each other through their obsessive interests in a catagory of entertainment known as Anime/Manga. So obsessive, they are called, in the parlance of said genres' followers: Otakus. A rather derogatory term of Japanese vernacular meaning "obsessive fan".

One goes so far as to actually, albeit unknowingly, bend reality. The others' dedication bends her relationships with others. Both having effects on people & their surroundings they fail to see.

These two disparate enthusiasts have now wandered into a media chain store known as Gamers, an establishment specializing in their interests & tastes. This particular franchise outlet is normally located in an area of northern Tokyo but ... for the moment ... now in ... The Twilight Zone.

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Though not a day for new inventory, Konata Izumi decided to check out her favorite store anyway. Every so often she would find in these "secondary sweeps" something she had missed in her usual "planned assaults". That & she always loved the atmosphere of all things anime/manga & gaming. The fact she was a bit of an impulse buyer may have had something to with it as well.

On entering she noticed how quiet it was, the staff seemingly absent (Could they be in the back?). Usually a crowd at this time of day, she noted only three other people.

Facing away from her, looking over the stacks of clearance shoujos by the entrance, was an obvious middle schooler. Izumi "hmmphed" inwardly. Partly about the kids' seeming lack of taste but a little more over the fact the youngster was taller than she. Passing by she took in the other two.

At a middle aisle, a somewhat creepy looking older foriegner leafed through a film related magazine, putting the blue haired one on alert. This area was pretty much off the beaten track for tourists, nothing for them to "take in". Her imagination briefly kicked in, running from "pervs" to secret agents. She decided to swing wide of this one.

It was the one in the sci-fi aisle who more than brought her up short.

There ... staring at her just as open mouthed and aghast was-

"You're ... YOU'RE ... ," both shouted in unison pointing fingers at one another.

"Haruhi Suzumiya!"

"Konata Izumi!"

"But that can't be-!"

"This isn't possible-!

"How can-!"

"It isn't-"

"YOU'RE NOT REAL!" Again both in unison.

"But I watched your show regularly!" Konata exclaimed. "You even did commercials."

"Yours was a weekly I never missed!" Haruhi also exclaimed. "I have all your manga."

"It can't be! I mean ... It would be nice. As an actor I could use the money ... This hobby isn't cheap, you know."

"I could use the extra dough myself. Brigade projects aren't low cost either."

"But if you & I are real ..."

"We can't be fictional characters ... We-"

"Actually you are BOTH fictional characters."

The two looked up as the afore-mentioned foriegner approached.

"Merely figments in the imaginations of various & sundry working through the auspices of Kyoto Animation."

"And just WHO are you!?" Demanded Haruhi.

"And just WHERE do you fit in!?" Konata demanded also.

The foriegner stopped, smiled & pulled out a pack of Chesterfields.

"Mind if I smoke?"

"YES!" More unison.

The man lit up anyway.

"Sorry ... In my uh ... 'timeline' ... Smoking was good for you."

"Oh ... When was that?" Haruhi wasn't about to let up. "Prehistoric times ... 1960s maybe?"

"When dinosaurs ruled the earth!" Konata declared.

The strangers' smile widened.

"An introduction IS in order. I already know who you are though."

"So again," said Haruhi. "WHO are you?"

"And what's the game? Asked Konata.

"As my show is from the United States & so long ago, it's not surprising you wouldn't know me."

"AAAAAND!" Even more unison.

"My name is Rod Serling," the man said looking at Haruhi then to Konata. "As for my 'fitting in', the writer of this story is a big fan of mine as he is of you both.

"And the 'game', at least for me, is to bring down the curtain so to speak."

"Bring down ...?"

"The curtain ...?"

"After wrap up/conclusion of course."

"Wrap up? Conclusion?" Haruhi questioned confused. "Like ... as you say ... In a story?"

"And why is our dialogue so coordinated?"

"You both have the same voice artist ... Japanese AND English dub."

"Oh come on!" Konata bristled. "You make this sound like an anime."

"And a bad one at that," Haruhi declared. "And I feel as real as I always have as I'm sure you."

"Unlike you, I AM real. I left the scene back in '75. Seems smoking wasn't so good for you after all."

"As for this 'wrap up'-"

"Does this mean we ... die ... or something?"

"Or something. One could chalk it up to both your shows having ceased airing but it's more involved than that."

Taking a drag on the cigarette, Serling looked at Haruhi & continued.

"It seems a certain young man has had about all he can stand & has made arrangements."

"Now just WHAT could Kyon do that-"

"And a not so really close friend of yours," the smiling smoker in the Kuppenhiemer suit turned to Konata, "has reached her limit as well."

"I know Kagami 'n I've had our differences but-"

"She may be following you soon. Her slightly younger sister may be drawing a thread in the near future."

"A thread? Wait a sec-"

"As for this 'wrap up'." Haruhi grabbed a book figuring the spine of a trade paperback to the base of the foriegners' skull to be sufficient. "You're not going down without a fight, so-"

"It's not I who's your worry."

Serling turned aside as the up to now ignored middle schooler at the entrance turned & walked towards the group. The pale, raven haired apparition fixed her penetrating crimson eyes on the two girls.

"No!" Haruhi screamed. "This isn't possible!"

"It can't be! This ain't real!" Konata pointed. "She's an anime character! She's-"

"My name ... is Ai ..."

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In a broad sense, the world ends for everyone. When we shed this mortal coil by fair means or foul, peacefully or other wise, it is just as final on an individual basis as it would on an astronomical scale. With these two cases in point, it wasn't with Mr. Eliots' bang or whimper but as a plaintive whine. Two pitiful shadows lost & wallowing in the darkness of  ... THE TWILIGHT ZONE.

Rodman Edward Serling
1924-1975 RIP

Storyline (only) copyright © 7-19-13 C V Ford

Rod Serlings' Wikipedia bio here.

The Twilight Zone TV series (1960s) Wikipedia entry here.

The Head Trip of Haruhi Suzumiya Pts 1, 2, & 3.

Lucky Star: Yak! Yakkity! Yak! here.

The Urban Legend-ary Girl: A Lucky Star Fan Fiction here.

My Gaijin American Boyfriend: A Luck Star Fan Fiction here.

The Big "What If" of Haruhi Suzumiya fan fiction here.

The Otakudom of Haruhi Suzumiya fan fiction here.

My Fellow American: A Lucky Star/Lucky Channel Fan Fiction here.

The 4th Wall of Haruhi Suzumiya fan fiction here.

C V Fords' fan fiction & profile page at fanfiction.net here.

Fanfiction dot net main page here.


Go to Jays' Tee Vee blog main page here.


Disclaimer: The preceding is a NON-PROFIT work of fan fiction for entertainment purposes only. I make no claim to ownership of the COPYRIGHTED names/characters, places, dialogue & events mentioned in this work. They are the sole properties of their respective owners. Please, by all means support the owners of such properties in the purchase & enjoyment of their works.

My "Gaijin" American Boyfriend: A Lucky Star Fanfiction

Yes ... They ARE.

My "Gaijin" American Boyfriend

A Lucky Star Fanfiction

by

C V Ford


Tadao knelt at the low table mulling over the last half hour as Miki & Inori looked on in concern. A bombshell had just been set off in the houshold. Matsuri phoned only just before. She was bringing her new boyfriend over to meet every one ... An American.

"And neither of you knew about this?"

"It's news to me Dad," Inori answered. "I'd just gotten the call."

"You both go to the same college."

"I'm a junior, she's a sophmore. We don't have the same courses so we hardly see each other even when we're there at the same time. It's a big campus."

"I remember her mentioning there were some foriegn students in her classes. One in particular was helping everyone with their physics work. He could be the one."

Tadao looked over at his wife. "There wasn't any indication she was getting close to this boy? She mention ANYTHING?"

"I remember Matsuri mentioning him a couple times but only in passing regarding her studies. He was helping anyone who needed it as I recall. If she said anything more I would have told you ... Right after telling HER."

Tadao squeezed his wifes' hand in reassurement.

"She mentioned his name was ... Jack," Inori volunteered.

"Jack ... ," Tadao spit the name out.

"Yes," he thought. "Sounds like those gutteral monosyllabic nick names they're so fond of."

Though he had little sympathy with the right wing parties/factions of his country, as a Shinto priest & manager of his shrine at that, he felt, KNEW, it incumbent upon him to instill a pride & sense of oneness/affinity in his children as to what it was to be Japanese. While he wasn't overly strict, he still went to great pains to steep them in their culture. Even going so far as to have all four as Mikos ... shrine maidens. By modern Japanese standards his family was large what with his countrys' zero population growth. His friends kidded him about his trying to repopulate Japan single handed. He would usually retort about his wife having SOMETHING to do with it.

His thoughts went from his concern about his daughter to that of the past. He remembered the stories his grandfathers & great grandfathers told him of the Pacific War. Of the insane Americans ways of waging war & the cruelty on both sides. Few prisoners were taken by either & it was by the grace of the gods his relatives survived. The stories of the lean times of the Occupation didn't settle well with him either.

He felt himself fortunate to have missed that.

The periodic news stories of problems with American servicemen on Okinawa were no help either.Like many of his countrymen, he wished them gone. With a real military of their own they wouldn't "need" them.

A commotion at the front door brought him out of his thoughts. Getting up, he & Miki went to the hall.

"Oh, hi Dad!" Tsukasa greeted.

The twins arriving from school. Tadao let out some breath.

"Hey Dad!" Kagami exclaimed "You're not gonna believe who we ran in to on the way here."

"Matsuri ..."

"Uh ... yeah."

"With her new boy freind!" Tsukasa piped in. "He's really kool!"

"Cool ... ," Mr. Hiiragi looked on & thought. "Dear, sweet, deferential Tsukasa. And Kagami doesn't seem too concerned either. I'm going to have a long talk with EACH of my daughters ... especially Matsuri ... If I can make her stand still long enough."

"We ran into them at the convenience store," explained Kagami. "She's gonna make us all dinner! Your favorites too!"

As if it wasn't enough that Matsuri would do what she was doing. Now she was parading herself & the foreigner around the neighborhood for all to see. Tadao doubted dinner would make up for anything. In fact he doubted there would be ANY dinner that night.

"Uh ... Dad ... " Kagami asked. " ... something wrong?"

"I want you both out of the way for the next hour or so. Stay in your rooms."

"Wait ... Dad. This isn't about-"

"Just do as I say ... Something needs to be done."

"O ... Kay-"

"Wait! Sis! Don't you think we-"

"Come along Tsukasa," Kagami chided as she grabbed her arm. "THIS is serious ..."

Partway down the hall Tsukasa started in again.

"Why not just TELL him? He didn't look happy ... AT ... ALL!

"Are you kidding? This is gonna be fun!" Kagami put on her mischeivious grin. "Keep your eyes & ears peeled. Those two're gonna be here real quick & I don't wanna miss this!"

"Oh!" Tsukasa laughed. "You're right! This is gonna be good!"

"When we hear 'em at the door, we sneak down here real quick. Shoot! Forget just waiting, I'm gonna watch for 'em!"

---------------------------------------------

Tadao & Miki stood silently in the hall as they observed their second daughter enter the house. Inori waited at the kitchen entrance, also tense. No matter how well it was handled, it was not going to go well. Though polite, it was to be plain to Matsuris' would be suiter that he was not at all welcome.

Still holding a couple store bags, Matsuri kicked off her street shoes as she greeted her parents.

"Mom, Dad?" She noticed their expressions as if she fully expected their demeanor. Though she smiled, her tenseness was also detectable. No, this was not going to go at all well.

"We understand you have someone you want us meet ..." Tadao said businesslike unsmiling

"Uh ... Yeah ... he's ..."

A stumbling at the door drew everyones' attention as they observed a figure, bent low picking up a bag while keeping the door propped open with one foot. His other arm wrapped around a cake box.

Tadao frowned. No. This was not going to be easy but it had to be done.

"Uh ... Mom? ... Dad? ... I'd like you to meet a fellow student of mine."

The intake of breath from the parents was audible.

"Jack ..."

The young man stood upright, looking straight at Tadao, a pleasant smile on his face.

"Nakamura ..."

Setting the bag down though still holding the cake, the young man did a reverential deep bow & spoke.

"Mr. & Mrs. Hiiragi ... I'm most happy to meet you both. Matsuri has told me so much about you ... "

His Japanese was flawless.

-------------------------------------------------------

"I tell you," exclaimed Kagami. "Mom & Dad had to be absolutely freaking out! The way Dad was acting when Tsukasa & I got home was really cold. Like he was getting ready for a real knock-down, drag-out."

Lunch period, the twins recounted last nights' events to the others.

"So they had absolutely no idea he was ... ?" Miyuki started to inquire.

"Thought he was a really waspy gaikokujin huh?"

Tsukasa looked over at Konata. "Wasp-y?"

"Uh ... European looking ..."

"Whatever," Kagami retorted & paused. "It'd be just like Matsuri only to mention he was from America. Inori relayed the message to Mom & Dad & it'd be easy to assume the rest. I think she did it on purpose so Dad would out & out object from the start to soften him up for the rest.  Jacks' being gonsei still means he's American after all."

"One of ... ," Konata, in sepulchral voice, paused for dramatic effect. " ... the ... OTHERRRRRRR!"

"Come on Konata," chided Miyuki. "This IS serious."

"Yeah ... I know but," Konata returned. "I just wonder about the way things are though. I mean ... With science & genetic testing & all, you could be more Japanese than the Emporer himself & STILL be an outsider."

Miyuki sighed as as the more tradition bound twins looked at the diminutive one as if she pulled a mortal faux pas.

"And God help the guy if he was one of the Buraku."

Kagami let out a deep breath. "Yeah ... It IS much more than that. There are some things we need to fix socially. But that's gonna take some time ... Way long after WE graduate ... ."

"It seems Jack's not as much as on the outside as we thought." Tsukasa stated, getting back to the subject."

"Oh?"

"Though Jacks' part of his family emigrated to the States around the turn of the last century, they still kept close ties. Even going so far as to get their childrens' names in the family registries here."

"And they really kept up on heritage." Kagami stated. "Though Dad didn't show it, he was really impressed. He was absolutely grilling him before, during AND after dinner."

"We all were sis. About EVERYTHING!"

"Hey! I might wanna meet this guy." Konata piped up. "There's a whole lotta questions I might ask him."

"Uh ... yeah," Kagami rolled her eyes. "We're talkin' REAL culture here."

"So what do his parents do?" Miyuki inquired.

"They're both with the U.S. embassy staff downtown. Translators & protocol."

"Explains why his Japanese is so good."

"So ... uh ... " Konata questioned, "your parents OK with this guy?"

"Wellllll ... ," the 'elder' twin speculated. "It seems, for the moment ... the Jack/Matsuri relationship is on a reluctant probation. You know how my Dad is. He was burning up the phone lines this morning, checking on his bona fides. If they're half as good as they might, I don't see how Dad could say no."

"Oh I think things'll be OK."

Kagami looked over at her sister.

"How's that?"

"It's what Dad said to Matsuri after Jack left."

"What was THAT?"

"At LEAST he's right handed."

"No one's perfect, Tsukasa."

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Storyline (only) copyright © 6-20-13 C V Ford


C V Fords' fanfiction page on fanfiction.net here.

Fanfiction. net here.

Lucky Star: Yak Yakkity Yak! here.

Go to Jays' Tee Vee blog main page here.

Disclaimer: The preceding is a NON-PROFIT work of fan fiction for entertainment purposes only. I make no claim to ownership of the COPYRIGHTED names/characters, places, & events mentioned in this work. They are the sole properties of their respective owners. Please, by all means support the owners of such properties in the purchase & enjoyment of the original works.

Interesting Search Words #18

                                          
                                           Interesting Search Words #18

      It's not the search words themselves are interesting so much as the people behind them. What are they like? And do we really want to know?

1. haruhis' alien babies - As seen before, this crops up now & then. Out of curiosity, I Googled it & found it to be badly executed preggo hentai. Too bad it couldn't have been this:

they're so cute, sweet & innocent looking when asleep.

2. jerry sandusky looks like huckleberry hound - This is a strange one. I don't think he looks like ole Huck. He doesn't look like Kimura either.

3. asuka langly soryu crazy - Now how could that be? Considering the show, she's actually one of the more stable characters. Well ... at least she doesn't whine all the time. She's a better man than you, Shinji. Half German. Half Japanese. ALL AXIS!

Crazy ... Crazy for feelin' so lonely ... Crazy ... Crazy for feelin' so blue ...
Credit: Gainax

4. is hentai for kids - OH HELL NO!

5. rei ayanami smile - Another repeater. What's this fascination with a weird fictional chick who's going to bring on the "end of the world"? And all this time you rapture bunnies thought it was a Hal Lindsey/Tim LaHaye scenario ...

That kid really DOES enjoy "tanging" people!
"Yer next, gloppy boy!"

6. hentai fear kubrick - I have several of Mr. Kubricks' films in my collection (The Killing, Dr. Strangelove, Paths of Glory, etc.). Don't see any hentai connection. There's Eyes Wide Shut I guess.

7. chiyo chan male cosplay - See answer to #4.

8. konata izumi smoking - That kid's picked up a LOT of bad habits. So's Kagami I see ...

LSMFT: Lucky Strike Means Fine Tobacco!
Character credit: Kyoto Animation

      Just wait'll ya see what they got growin' behind the school ... An' it ain't bamboo for Tanabata neither! Darn kids!

9. haruhi suzumiya pokemon cards - Kyon! She chose you! Kyon whine ... Attack!

"Maybe ... Maybe if I pretend she doesn't exist, she'll
disappear. Yeah! That's it! She'll go away and ... "

The Head Trip of Haruhi Suzumiya Pts 1,  2,  3.

Azumanga Daioh: Too ... Much ... Cute here.

Azumanga Daioh: Where Are They Now? here.

Azumanga Daioh: The Abridged Series, An Episodic Review here.

Neon Genesis Evangelion: OOOOO! Goodies In the Mail! here.

On the Rapture, Third Impact, Armageddon & All That here.

End of Evangelion: This Is (Really) Disturbing here.

Lucky Star: Yak! Yakkity! Yak! here.

Go to Jays' Tee Vee main page here.


DISCLAIMER: All images used on this blog are strictly copyrights of their owners. I do not claim credit/ownership for any images used here in my blog unless stated otherwise. If I have offended anyone by posting any images on my blog, please contact me via email and I will remove specified image(s) ASAP.

Lucky Star Theory: The Konata/Kanata Connection

Konata & Kanata Izumi: Could they be ... one & the same?.

                               Lucky Star Theory: The Konata/Kanata Connection

                                                                 by

                                                                     Jay Agan


      Lucky Star is an anime series I had sworn off getting due to what I thought originally to be a cutsey kiddie show & nothing more. After having You Tubed it (And getting past the first four episodes.) I found it to be a delightful, satirical little sendup of otaku obsession & pop culture. Thus it now (Along with the OVA.) resides on my shelf.

      Having seen it more than once over the past twelve months, something about the show occured to me & has had me up at nights (Of course I exaggerate.). After pondering it at some length, I've arrived at a "conclusion": Konata Izumi & her alledgedly deceased mother, Kanata, may actually be one & the same person.

      One could only wonder. Did Kanata Izumi really die when Konata was very young? Was there even a real Konata to begin with? Is it out of some shame/guilt over not having successfully given birth or an inability to bear a child that Kanata took on an alternate personae & "became" that child herself? Sure there are "flashback" scenes in the show, but that could be nothing more than illustration of what's going on inside Ko/anatas' mind.

1. First the obvious: As revealed in episode 10 of the series, both Konata & Kanata (With the exception of the mole/beuty mark under her left eye, supposedly inherited from her dad. Tattoo or permanently affixed prosthetic of some kind?) are physically exactly the same.

The person in question should be in her early thirties & thus should look "a lot" older. This is anime however. Not all "old people" have to look like Keel Lorenz.

2. Both she & her "dad" seem quite comfortable about playing adult video games ("Dating sims" etc.) together. Yes, we know what Mr. Izumi is & we have names for people like that (And I don't mean Bill, George or Clarence either!). Could it be it's because they're husband & wife not father & daughter that they have few qualms about this?

      Mr. Izumi supposedly buys these games for his "underaged daughter" but she could also be buying them herself using her old ID.

      Cousin Yui, the policewoman drops by from time to time. In ep. ten she sees Ko/anata playing a "questionable" game & either doesn't notice or lets it slide. Could she also be in on the charade? For that matter what about Yutaka? Yui doesn't seem to mind her little sister staying at the Izumi household in spite of Mr. Izumis' predilections, so why would she even worry about Ko/anatas' "dual" personality?

3. "Legendary Girl": It usually takes time for some legends to build. Could it be this "mythic" figure has been a fixture in anime & pop culture a lot longer than the "teen" Konata?

4. There's also the fact that in spite of her diversions/obsessions, non-spirit of "slack" & bad study habits she still gets passing grades in school. Yes, she certainly knows how to "work the system": Copying others (Usually Kagamis'.) homework, all night cramming before tests, blocking cram school solicitations with caller ID, etc. It could be she's been through it before & drawing from her earlier high school experience. Knowing what a pack rat she is in regard to her otaku interests it could be she refers to papers/work & text books from when she was a student years before.

5.Yes, Kanata does show up as a spirt in ep. twenty two. Keep in mind we're dealing with what may be a dual personality of some kind. It might be Ko/anatas' actual self trying to reassert itself.

      I hope you enjoyed these little observations of mine & that they may have cleared up any confusion in regard to this series. If so, glad to have been of some help.


Article copyright © 6-30-2012 Jay Agan


Lucky Star, Yak! Yakkity! Yak! here.

Go to Main Page here.


This article (only) may be copied in whole or in part. Please cite proper credit & backlink.

DISCLAIMER: All images used on this blog are strictly copyrights of their owners. I do not claim credit/ownership for any images used here in my blog unless stated otherwise. If I have offended anyone by posting any images on my blog, please contact me via email and I will remove specified image(s) ASAP.

Interesting Search Words #17

                                              
                                        Interesting Search Words #17


      Interestinger n' interestinger as time goes on.

1. mlp evangelion - As if we didn't have enough to worry about. Now we gotta watch out for Rei-nbow Dash!

Why ... Oh God ... why? Credit: LavosVsBahamut

2. jay sherman my little pony - "IT STINKS!"

I felt the "It stinks!" shot to be overused & decided on this.
Credit: Princedymion

3. konata pride - Yes, she does play "dating sims" (With her dad yet!). Yes, she does comment a lot on female anatomy/"moe' points". Yes, she can be an "interesting" character. But ... you know? ... In the times I've viewed the show, I haven't seen her once "come on" to Kagami or any of the other female characters in the series. In one scene she even talks about boys in a "het" manner (The similarity of the silhouette to her of the boy in question is more an indication of how wrapped up she is in herself than anything else.).

Rampant Konata.

    No, until any real info comes in (Hentai & yuri fan fiction don't count!), I'll take it as an indication she's just too much involved in anime & pop culture. Glad I'm not.

    Now as for Hiyori & possibly Patricia (link) that's another story entirely.

4. mlp commie - Figured it to be a plot of SOME kind!

The wave of the future ... You have been warned.
Credit: 2snacks

5. redneck pikachu - Tobaccochu! I choose you!

6. girl from hell - I think we've all known one or two. No not THAT one!

7. barry resident evil yaois - Anything to do with the presidents' recent statement? By the way, this one was from France (Hetalia!).

8. waffle hentai - There are fetishes ... and ... I guess .... There are ... FETISHES!

9. haruhis' alien babies - This one came in before. Could he mean this?

Wasn't one loose cannon God enough?

Wikipedia article on The Critic (Jay Sherman) here.

Lucky Star: Yak Yakkity Yak! here.

The Head Trip of Haruhi Suzumiya Pt. 1, Pt. 2, Pt 3.

TV Animes I Got: Mini Reviews here. Contains a Hell Girl review.

Pokemon ... Uh ... Yeah here.

Go to Main Page here.

DISCLAIMER: All images used on this blog are strictly copyrights of their owners. I do not claim credit/ownership for any images used here in my blog unless stated otherwise. If I have offended anyone by posting any images on my blog, please contact me via email and I will remove specified image(s) ASAP.

Interesting Search Words #15

                                                    
                                           Interesting Search Words #15


      Words of web wanderers who were woefully wending their weary way to this wonderous website. WOW!

1. anime bunny with guns - What's bettern' an anime bunny? An anime bunny with guns!

This couldn't be Kagame Hiiragi, could it? Konata must've finally gotten to her!

2. hentai real - Hentai UN-real. You probably wish it was ...... hopefully with some sub-genres left out.

3. yuki nagato is not amused - How can you tell? It's like determining wether or not Robert Mitchum is sleepy.

The best part of waking up is LCL ..... er ..... Folgers in your cup!

4. baby looney toons elmira - The show was called Tiny Toon Adventures. The character was Elmyra Duff. Elmira is my original home town.

5. cosplay lolicon - Call the cops!

6. big brown spider in virginia - Here's one in Arizona. Check out what happens to it here.
Attaboy Clint!

Yep! They git purty big out there.

7. the bible demotivational - Pen Jillette said he gave up at Leviticus. I would too. Start at Matthew instead of Genesis (And I DON'T mean Neon GENESIS Evangelion!).

8. haruhi mikuru asahina pillow - This brings to mind an issue of The Dirty Pair from the late 80s. In the letters section a fan kept referring to the characters as if they were real. The Ed. stated that real lovers, in spite of any physical shortcomings, were better than imaginary ones. Go out and ask one for a date! Yeah, some do "bite" & are mean, but that's the risk you take. The worst she can do is say "no" ..... & make a scene ..... laugh at you ..... put you down in front of God 'n everybody ..... make you feel like 2 cents ...... Ahem! ..... GO FOR IT!

9. manly guys doing manly things cosplay - As a manly guy I don't cosplay when I do manly things (Which is all the time.). Don't need to. God! I'm gorgeous!

10. rei smile - Long ago I had a spooky girl friend like that. She smiled ..... a lot!

Sometimes I think that kid ENJOYS glopping people!

Go to  Main Page here.

DISCLAIMER: All images used on this blog are strictly copyrights of their owners. I do not claim credit/ownership for any images used here in my blog unless stated otherwise. If I have offended anyone by posting any images on my blog, please contact me via email and I will remove specified image(s) ASAP

Darn ..... That ..... Bill!

One of the entrees typical of Bono Pizza.
Photo: Columbus Crave/Columbus Alive

                                 
Disclaimer: Parts of the following article are not meant to be condemnatory rants or whines. It's  all for entertainment purposes only.

                                              Darn ..... That ..... Bill!

      I attended Revoluticon for the almost express purpose of seeing Weatherly Hardy (Proprietor of Aardvark Tees.) at his booth in the dealers room. The con itself didn't hold much for me, it not being an anime only event. A lot was TV oriented & most of what was movie related I thought kind of dull. Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, "Star Trek vs Star Wars"? Meh .....

      Getting to the dealers room, I find Mr. Hardy & his son Noel at the Aardvark Tees tables tucked away in one of the large rooms' corners. There we conversed almost two hours about politics (We're both more or less "small L" libertarians.), & media related topics. As five o'clock was nearing, I had to embark for the Godzilla seminar on the 6th floor.

      The seminar was on the original 1954 Japanese language version of the aforementioned film. Somewhat disappointing, I knew more about it than the two panelists (I'm such a nerd!) . I will say they knew more about the other films in the franchise.

      Six o'clock rolls around & it's back to the now shut down dealers room. Weatherly & I pre-planned to go out for pizza. Some weeks before, he had a posting on his blog about the merits of Lenders bagels & other cuisine. I happened to mention the subject of wood fired pizza & where to get it in Columbus.

      Bono Pizza is a "hole in the wall" establishment in the back of The Corner Market (1717 Northwest Blvd. At the corner of Chambers & Northwest Blvd. in front of a Krogers grocery.) the proprietor being a one Bill Yerkes.

      Mr. Yerkes is, to say the least, an interesting sort. Sort of a cross between Strother Martin & Ed Wood Jr. A child of the 50s/60s, he's been all over the world "been there done that ..... twice." A real life Captain Tylor, he joined the Navy & managed to avoid basic training. Managed night clubs for the Navy & owned/operated restaurants literally from Palermo to Podunk.

      Columbus certainly looks different at night. After at least three wrong turns we managed to arrive at Bono Pizza. There we were greeted by Peggy, Bills' "long suffering" wife & sat ourselves down. It didn't take long for Bill to find us.

      "Hi Jay! I see you & your friends are in town for the hentai convention!"

      Kill me ..... Kill me now God ..... Make it quick ..... Painless if possible.

      Bill looks on my interest in anime as more a predilection than a hobby & insists on calling ALL anime hentai. He definitely knows the difference but he'll be dipped if he's going to verbally acknowledge that. He also likes to refer to my large old car as "the pedo-mobile" thus furthering my exasperation (I prefer my women real & of legal age, thank you.). Needless to say both Weatherly & Noel found much amusement in this & were quite audible about it.

      While waiting for our goodies, Bill regaled them with "sea stories" especially about trips between Pensacola & Mobile via Foley, Alabama.

      We, of course, enjoyed our pizzas (Mr. Hardy had nothing but praise & did a nice write-up in a posting on his blog.) & we finished it off with a Belgian waffle. At one point, Weatherly stepped out to make a call, his business covering two other cons (St. Louis & Atlanta.). I didn't think much of this until a couple days later.

      As we departed, I noticed Peg sitting in a chair on the restaraunts' patio watching us intently. Didn't know what to make of that until ..... I noticed a hastily scrawled sign hanging in the drivers side window of my car.

      "HEY KIDS! FREE CANDY! ASK INSIDE!"

      This ..... next to the sidewalk ..... for all the world to see.

      My bowels in a turmoil.

      "What the ..... Herp! ..... D' ..... gack!"

      Noel, who was about to get in the back seat, drivers' side, also saw it & busts up laughing.

      "I don't stinkin' believe this! Holy ..... Weatherly! Take a look at this!"

      He comes around the car & cracks up too. Ah yes ..... sympathy ..... Where is it? Oh yeah ..... in the dictionary ..... between s--t & suicide!

      Back on the patio Peg's clapping & laughing her head off. Bill ..... nowhere to be seen (He was in & out all the time, attending to some cooking pasta.).

      We pile into the car & Noel has to put his five cents worth in:

      "Hi Jay! I'm Chris Hanson. Have a seat!"

      Nothing ..... but ..... abuse.

     
      After a few more wrong turns we got a quick tour of my favorite part of Columbus on High St. The now closed down Zanes' Gun Rack (A story in & of itself.), the gym that used to be the Camelot/Drexel North Theater, The Soldiery (wargames), & The Laughing Ogre (Manga, comics.).

       I drop them off at the Ramada Plaza & do a quick look-see of the con only to find nothing of interest. It was off to the folks to celebrate St. Pats' the next day.

      Monday I get a call from Bill, who, to say the least, was quite pleased with his little joke. It turns out Weatherly had a hand in it. He suggested "free candy" instead of toys on the sign.

      Sigh ..... I've a host of friends. And with friends like these .....

The Aardvarks Plumbline blog here.

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DISCLAIMER: All images used on this blog are strictly copyrights of their owners. I do not claim credit/ownership for any images used here in my blog unless stated otherwise. If I have offended anyone by posting any images on my blog, please contact me via email and I will remove specified image(s) ASAP.

Interesting Search Words #10

Interesting Search Words #10

Weird stuff sought after by weird people leading them to this humble blog.

1. haruhi being punched - As much as I like the show, sometimes I think the kid is just begging to get hit.

Too bad Itsuki stopped him. The kid had it coming. But
then the whole universe would have gone in the tank.

2. akagi ritsuko laughing - "Yes! With this device I shall rule the world. Igor! Throw the switch!" link

Beware! Mad scientist! Boo!
Credit: Gainax

3. nazi konata - Gee. I never knew what her politics were until now. link

"My darling fuhrer please!" Ah ..... Nazis! Aren't they just adorable?
They're so cute when they're little! Credit: Sunahime 

4. asuka demotivational - She is at that!

Credit: Kura-chan

5. do not mess up with hentai - It doesn't need your help!

6. haruhi suzumiya bunny body - Try saying that fast three times!

    God Knows:   Japanese   English

Who would have thought the Second Coming would be an
ADHD afflicted Playboy bunny? Credit: Kyoto Animation

7. sos brigade as evangelion - Two great shows. One GREAT crossover! 

    Haruhi   Evangelion

The SOS Brigade takes over defense of the Earth. Clockwise from bottom: Haruhi "Asuka"
Suzumiya, Mikuru "Misato" Asahina, Yuki "Rei" Nagato, Ritsuko "Tsuraya" Akagi,
Itsuke "Kawarou" Koizume, & Shinji "Ten Times the Whine Kyon" Ikari

8. neon genesis evangelion - Not only does everyone "drink the Koolaid", everyone IS the Koolaid!

     End of Evangelion review here.

     FLCL/Fooly Cooly review here.

    Third Impact: Japanese ("Getting tanged" around 2:35)  
                           English ("Getting tanged" around 1:13. Poor video quality.)

Credit: RetroSushi

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DISCLAIMER: All images used on this blog are strictly copyrights of their owners. I do not claim credit/ownership for any images used here in my blog unless stated otherwise. If I have offended anyone by posting any images on my blog, please contact me via email and I will remove specified image(s) ASAP.

Lucky Star, Yak! Yakkity! Yak!

Yes ..... they talk ..... a LOT! Oh, look! They're talking now!
Tsukasa, Konata, Miyki, & Kagami. Photo: Kyoto Animation

                                          Lucky Star, Yak! Yakkity! Yak!

                                                                 by

                                                                    Jay Agan

      At first, that's what I thought it was. At second, it still is. But now I get it.

      My first attempt at viewing Lucky Star ended the same as my efforts at watching Gone With the Wind. Disaster! I couldn't make it past the cream horn eating debate in episode one so I went on to other things. 24 episodes of four girls CONSTANTLY discussing such weighty matters as girl talk, dodging homework, dieting, girl talk, the weather, boys, girl talk, pop culture, hair care, girl talk ..... No way was I going to be able to take this one in! And after that zippy opening credits number, what a let down! (The "Konata drop" at the end of the cheer line never fails to get a chuckle out of me.)

      Call it senility, stupidity, temporary dementia, what have you ..... a few weeks later I gave it another try. Got past the cream horn "speed bump" & after going through the first four eps I started to actually enjoy it. (No. It didn't get me in touch with my "feminine side". And no, you DON'T want to meet her!)

      The show centers around obsessed otaku Konata Izumi & her level headed (Kagami Hiiragi) & not so level headed (Tsukasa Hiiragi, Miyuki Takara) foils. In their typical & sometimes atypical everyday activities we get an observation or ten on media culture & to what degree it affects (Infects?) the world. As Kagami exasperatingly observes more than once to Konata: "It all comes down to THAT with you, doesn't it?"

      Others in the cast are a slightly off center homeroom teacher (Nanako Kuroi), an authority figure  who drives like a maniac (Yui Narumi, Konatas' policewoman cousin.), & Konatas' lolita complex "afflicted" dad (He doesn't try to act on it overtly. Surprisingly, his flakey daughter is a stabilising force. eg. the "..... too close, you're freaking me out!" scene in episode 18.) Shades of Azumanga Daioh! Second season eps put some attention on Konatas' even more diminutive freshman cousin (Yutaka Kobayakawa) & her friends.

Fear & loathing on the (un)Lucky Channel.
Akira & Minoru. Photo: Kyoto Animation

      The cast is rounded out by the two members (Akira Kogame, Minoru Shiraishi) of the "show within a show", Lucky Channel. Ostensibly to comment & inform about Lucky Star it's mostly about Akiras' (Slipping in & out of "character".) jealousy, grumbling bitterly over her flagging acting career & bullying Minoru as a result (He later explodes in ep 21.).

      The constant, obvious, visual/verbal references (No subtext here!) are more than a clue that this show is a running commentary/satire on anime/manga/gaming in particular, & pop culture (Japanese & otherwise.) in general. It's also a continuous ad for The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya, another Kyoto Animation property.

      Being that the show is about otaku "culture" (Before dabbling in anime, I used to think otakus was a Frito-Lay product. I like the Cool Ranch & Barbecue flavors.) we see most everything through the eyes of the "showcased" Konata. Through her we are given a first person accounting of the trials, tribulations, & FINANCIAL dificulties rabid fans go through, & how manipulative some can be in their desperation to indulge . (I like it that she could con two friends into canvassing the huge Comiket convention for her {ep 12}, & have her buddies accompany her to the Kyoto Animation studios during a field trip {ep 21}.) In ep 16 we see Konata in action at her job in a "cosplay" cafe (It was a kick to hear Wendee Lee switch horses in midstream & reprise her Haruhi role.).

      Though we are taken through about 2+ years of classes, the high school scene is only a backdrop for the above mentioned references (Too numerous to count.). One has to be a true fan to "get" even half of them (I got about a quarter.). I was more interested in Konatas' "relationship" with them. The character is really wrapped up in it (Aren't you glad YOU're not like that?).

      Lucky Star has everything: Nonstop talk, comedy, nonstop talk, anime/pop cult. references, nonstop talk, product placements, nonstop talk ..... Not my kind of anime but enjoyed watching just the same. You just have to get past the discourse. Fade to white .....

                                        Article copyright © 2-17-2011 Jay Agan

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DISCLAIMER: All images used on this blog are strictly copyrights of their owners. I do not claim credit/ownership for any images used here in my blog unless stated otherwise. If I have offended anyone by posting any images on my blog, please contact me via email and I will remove specified image(s) ASAP.

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