I think the greatest benefit with early voting is knowing which districts and precincts one needs to concern themselves with cheating and forging votes.

I think this election will be a doozy with fraud, and the offending party will likely get away with it.

Also, I can't recall hearing any stories about Electronic voting machines falsely casting Republican votes from voters who input Democratic choices. I must be wrong, but I can't recall.

Posted by: topmaker at 08:41 PM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
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Our betters are chastising us for unnecessary panic and over reaction to Ebola, in spite of strong evidence that we are indeed vulnerable to spreading due to the nature of the virus and our own selfish proclivities.

For years we have been told we must drastically change our economy and how we do business "right now(!)" in spite of strong evidence that there is far less warming if at all than what we are observantly warned about.

Just a thought.

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I hope you are enjoying your day, wherever you are. Be happy.

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Growing up in the greatest time for variety shows was quite the blessing. The Smother's brothers, Ed Sullivan, Johnny Cash's show, Bobby Darin (Dusty John Dusty) and The Sonny and Cher Hour were great places to hear songs from all over. They all took chances on unheard of artists as well as the best known of the day. Included in that were the hosts themselves (okay, not so much the case with Ed Sullivan).

 With the Sonny and Cher hour, the format was pretty simple: Sonny was always set up as the foil and Cher would always come out the winner in the comedy bits. Nothing wrong with that. That formula was a guarantee in those days. It always seemed like he deserved it anyway, and Cher was the star.

Behind the scenes, Sonny was the gifted songwriter who wrote and produced most of the hits they would have in their career together. Considering he was of the old school writers like Paul Williams, Paul Anka, Neil Diamond and Goffin/King he nonetheless played around with meter and Key change.

I rediscovered this song from 1966 and it shows how much Sonny messed around with convention at the same time new artists like Zappa and Bowie were getting their feet wet.

Posted by: topmaker at 09:16 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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My cousin's kid tweeted a twat, or whatever you call it (tweeted a twit in this case), proclaiming that he got free dental care now that the Affordable Care Act is in place. He ended the message with a big ol' "Thanks, President Obama!"

I'm happy for him. I really am.

I don't think he realizes that dental coverage is not required under the ACA for a company the size of which he works for. This is the same for my company as well. In fact, we are too small to even be required to offer health insurance at all.

The fact that companies like ours always have has nothing to do with the good graces of the President and the legislators who voted for this monstrosity, but by the nature of the employers who have offered it since I became management.

The fact that all policies must now fall in line with the ACA requirements is illustrative of what happens in most cases when the government "helps" us all. By getting into the thickets with detail, they leave loopholes, gaps and opportunities for the insurance conmpanies to fine tune themselves a nicer deal than they had before. As an example: I used to have routine blood work for diabetes, high blood pressure, cholesterol and other various afflictions. This was routine and paid for 100%. Not any more. I have to pay for all these tests myself now. Perscriptions used to be a three tier system where I paid either $10, $25, or $45, depending on the generic to brand name fall of the drug. Now there are two tiers, plus a possible 50% co pay. There now is a list of drugs covered and I have had to change three different prescriptions to stay on the list my insurance companies offer.

Procedures that my podiatrist performs are no longer covered. Other office procedures are the same. I have a deductible that I never needed before that kicks in not only for in patient hospital procedures, but for such things like imaging (x-rays, MRI's, etc.).

In short, I pay more money for the policy, have a deductible for services that were covered before the ACA, and have less benefits than I had before the ACA.

"Thanks, President Obama!".

Posted by: topmaker at 03:05 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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Scheduled for a 26 episode run, Mahouka Koukou no Rettousei is winding down the final arc of the series. The Light novel it is based on is written in a very wordy style. The author explains in detail every type of magic and how it relates to the great magic experience. In addition, political and family trees and how they all fit into the picture are detailed as well. It seemed as if it would be a challenge to complete the first two arcs, and with limited success at at that. Some novels just don't seem to translate well. Instead, they trimmed quite a bit and managed to fill in three major arcs, jumping over a minor arc to get there.

I think they did a rather good job of trimming to keep as much exposition while maintaining as steady a pace as they could so far. I have to say that this final arc, an arc that shows the audience the true extent of both Tatsuya's and Miyuki's full range of power and skill, as well as the skills of several other characters has very few episodes to tell a huge amount of story.

Tatsuya and Miyuki are a brother and sister pair who are the main characters of the series. The audience are in on who they are and how they relate to this world where magic power is largely hereditary and confers status and family hierarchy. The other characters in the world runs the gamut from knowing to being completely ignorant of who this powerful pair are.

This latest episode starts at the invasion by the enemy. I look forward to see how much the authors show us in the three episodes they have left. It is a good place to end the series. The side characters get a good opportunity to show their stuff and they all step up to the plate. At the end, we see the awesomeness that is the main character, Tatsuya, and his sister, Miyuki.

Posted by: topmaker at 08:54 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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In this post, Steven describes a few series from where he is pulling images for his (very cool) rotation. One of the shows is Rokujouma no Shinryakusha. To borrow a quote:

"As a joke she's something of a one-trick pony and I really wish she'd prove to everyone else that she's really magical so they'd stop being cruel to her."

The magical girl's name is Yurika Nijino, and Episode 8 is her spotlight. Another magical girl enters the picture and Yurika knows her. She is trying to warn everyone but, as Steven said, no one believes she is a magical girl and figures the two are cosplaying friends. They even scold her for treating a friend like that.

Why don't they believe her? Good question. you have a double D dirt dweller, a tsundere space princess, a grating ghost. That's all fine and dandy, but a mopey, manic mahou girl? That's just crazy!

The potential love interest student Steven talks about - Harumi Sakarabe -  has been making appearances every episode. Although she is not often the focus, she seems to be very important in the scheme of things. In a past episode, she and Yurika became friends and Yurika used her magic to cure Haraumi of her disease. Harumi does not know this, but instantly feels more refreshed than she has been in a long time. In this episode, she confesses her crush on the MC to Yurika, who herself has mixed feelings about him. However, the evil magical girl notices their relationship and captures Harumi.


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My friend just moved back to the states from Brazil, where he taught English as a second language. Obviously he speaks Portuguese quite well. While I was attempting to lose him as a friend by introducing him to anime, he brought up a legend about "arigato"

He said that the Portuguese had a fair amount of trade with Japan, and the word obligado (oh blee gadu) was adopted into the Japanese language and evolved into arigato.

Is it true? I don't bloody well know, but it's a nice story.

As for as easing him into anime, so far I have lucked out with Daily Lives of High School Boys, but I'm on episode ten, so I need to come up with something next. D-Frag is too "yelly", I think, and Nichijou is too, umm, I don't know, but it is too that.

I don't want to go into long term stuff like Vandread or Geminar yet, and I want to stay with comedy for now. Maybe Moyashimon?

Posted by: topmaker at 07:34 PM | Comments (11) | Add Comment
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Iwatani Naofumi is one of four "Saints" summoned from (probably) our world to this new world in order to fight an evil called Calamity. He is the hero of the Shield - a defense player with very high resistance against damage. the other Saints are the heroes of the Lance, the Bow and the Sword. Amongst the four he seems to have the weakest stats, so the local warriors join up with all the other heroes except for him.

In the end a beautiful woman named Mein Sofia joins up, just so he has someone on his side. He receives his portion of gold from the King, which is to be used as his operating budget. She teaches him the basics of this new world and takes him to the local arms merchant to weapon up and get him a set of chain mail. He is pretty happy with the way things turned out this strange first day.

As he wakes up the next morning, he finds his gold and chain mail gone, and is accused of attempted rape. Mein testifies that she went to the a bar, met with one of the other heroes, who happened to be the guy she originally joined up with, and when she got back to the room, drunk, the shield hero attacked her. Hearing her scream, the lance hero guy rescued her. He happens to be wearing the chain mail, claiming that Mein gave it to him.

The hero cannot simply be replaced, since all four heroes must die for a new set to be summoned. The hero then is released but the King makes sure that the whole village knows of his foul deed.

The hero is pissed. Really pissed and vows to make things right and see the truth out. He scrapes together enough money and points to buy a meager outfit and buy a low level slave to use as an attack character. Unfortunately she is weak and timid, but she's all he can afford. They set off.

It didn't even take a trip to the refrigerator to see the whole problem with the false accusation. Once he met up with the arms dealer again, who shows some pity even as he reproaches the falsely accused hero, he could have brought him before the King and testify that he sold the hero the chain mail, thereby shooting one hole in the accuser's credibility right away. After that doubt was cast, he can ask why no one else but the lance hero heard Mein screaming for help (how far away was this bar, anyway)?

Meh, I guess they needed to set up his reputation and circumstance and couldn't come up with anything better.

In the latest (overused) example of game themed stories, this one at least only uses what is necessary to help the plot along. The hero gets to see how he powers up, accumulates items, and etc. Interestingly, the other heroes recognize much of this world because of games they have played. They already sense how they need to act. Our hero, an otaku, gets sent to this world through a book in a bookstore, not a game.

He learns pretty fast as he goes on, and he is shown to be harsh on his slave, but mostly because he needs her to shape up. He shows kindness when she does well and surprises her with his attitude of rewarding her and knowing that a cooperative helper will perform better than a beat upon slave. He senses that much of her problem is centered on her past.

We are only about three chapters translated so far, but the path of discovery for both of them is underway.


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Posted by: topmaker at 02:19 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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Is there a difference between these?

Posted by: topmaker at 01:42 PM | Comments (3) | Add Comment
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"What is it, that it is, this theory of mine?"
-Anne Elk

All groups worthy of permanent recognition in the annals of pop music must have, in their Golden Period, at least three albums where the casual fan will like every song on the album (yes, I will call them albums, because this theory - which is mine and nobody else's - is mine"). I don't mean the casual listener, mind you, but the casual fan. Someone who is inclined to like the music this artist/band is inclined to perform.

This what separates The Cowsills from Creedence. What divides Bowie from Badfinger. Queen from Quatro. It does not mean that there aren't important bands that left a mark with only a hit album or song. Sometimes those guys were important because they were one hit wonders. They had a unique sound that grabbed listeners (Falco, Men Without Hats) but that were unsustainable or created dance crazes (1910 Fruitgum Company, the Archies) and even genres (bubblegum pop), but they did not have the constant sustainable talent in songwriting, production, performance and also had luck in timing and radio play.

The greatest artists moved the medium because of a special talent in either the combination they made as a band (The Beatles, Rolling Stones  - note the different sounds with different guitarists), or the unique contributions in songwriting or interpretation they could perform as solo artists (although always those with excellent back up bands), such as Billy Joel, Cat Stevens or Elton John.

Some one hit (or two or three) wonders  might have made it if not for tragedy or business reasons (Badfinger, for example), but it was not to be, so they did not have the impact that these paragons of Rock had. some just made it into the Golden Three camp, like Stevie Ray Vaughn. In my age of music discovery, most of these groups reside in the 60's and 70's, but I'm sure the formula works for all decades.

Some artists might have more than three, of course. You can take a Bowie fan like myself and go all the way back to Space Oddity, The Man Who Sold The World, Hunky Dory, Ziggy Stardust, Aladdin Sane, Pin Ups, Diamond Dogs, Young Americans and finish with Station to Station. An excellent live album was in there as well. Same with Jethro Tull, where there were at  least three phases of three excellent albums.

Here's some examples:


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Posted by: topmaker at 07:43 PM | Comments (5) | Add Comment
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Putting Index and Misaka Mikoto ahead of the others. Ahead of the beautiful Kanzaki Kaori, the devilish Lessar, Sister 10032, and that cute Amakusa girl who fell in love at first sight:

"Please. Lend me your power so I can save them both.”

In that instant, Index, the Anglican nun wearing a white habit and carrying a calico cat, fell silent for a moment. She slowly narrowed her eyes and thought on the meaning of the words coming from Kamijou Touma’s mouth.

In that instant, Misaka Mikoto, the girl with the nickname Railgun and wearing the blazer of Tokiwadai Middle School’s winter uniform, stopped moving as if thinking over the words she had heard.

They did not think it was too much to ask.

They did not find it to be a bother.

They had been waiting for those words for so long.

How long and painful had that wait been? The boy who had naturally spoken those words did not know how those girls felt. It would have taken hours or even days for them to say everything they wanted to say, but that did not matter for the moment.

The answer they had to give here was not something so long and unending.

They could take their time with that once this was all over.

They knew what would currently feel best as an answer for that boy who felt cornered and was seeking help.

"Leave it to me.”

"Leave it to me.”

The two girls took a large step forward to protect Kamijou Touma.

At the same moment, the train shot back into a tunnel.

Ahead of them was the Gremlin magician named Freyja. Behind them were the sounds of destruction as Níðhöggr Vol. 02 charged into the tunnel. It was clearly too large for the half circle space of the tunnel. If it continued forward, it could easily blow away the two remaining cars of the train. A powerful enemy lay ahead and behind, but Index and Misaka Mikoto both gave thin smiles.

They had nothing to be afraid of.

Their enemy was most likely unaware that they now stood in the place they had long dreamt of being in.

Posted by: topmaker at 07:45 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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Does Pixy have a page that gives a lesson for a baka like myself to set up a side bar for favorite links?

I have treated you guys who put me on a follow list badly and I want to correct that.

I also want to give my few non registered readers places go where they can find similar interests they themselves have.

Posted by: topmaker at 06:37 PM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
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Out for a walk late at night?

Well then, here is a truly useful flashlight.

Posted by: topmaker at 06:43 PM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
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Kamijou Shiina and Misaka Misuuzu have become quite close friends. The Touma/Mikoto shipping gets stronger all the time. If your moms (corrected) push for it, how do you resist?

In volume 8, chapter three (New Testament), Mikoto is saving Index, who is returning the favor by explaining the (Norse) magic that is being thrown at them.

So far still no recognition between Misaka Mikoto and Lessar. I guess it might not happen, which is a shame.

Posted by: topmaker at 08:20 PM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
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This episode featured the Nine Schools battle known as Monolith Code. This fight was amongst the first year students and pitted the favorites - Third High School's elite players vs. a replacement team of the three main male characters in the series. Tatsuya, Leo and Mikihiki were chosen as substitutes after the original First High team was injured by a sabotaged device.

Ichijo Masaki of Third High is one of the strongest magicians of his age. He and his friend Shinkuro Kichjoji, who is the strategist plus another unnamed team mate were the heavy favorites to win. They were following the engineering skills of protagonist Tatsuya Shiba throughout the competition and were somewhat disappointed when they found out that he had nothing to do with the Monolith Code battle they would participate in. It was figured that they would beat the First High team, but First High only needed to take second place to take the over all first year's division, considering how well the women did.

Tatsuya is incredible at what he is good at, but not fast at all in terms of practical application of magic. This fact places him in the "course two" group of students - the back ups, if you will. what he is good at, however is the disintegration of magic being formed by the other guy. he uses that skill, along with other special abilities to fight what even he thinks should be a losing battle.

More below the fold...


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Posted by: topmaker at 03:27 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
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The translations took it well past the two volumes released in the US and at least went as far as the New Orleans trip.

I wish I knew where I found them. Does anyone know?

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In Willimantic, Connecticut there used to be an old mill that was converted to a music venue called the Shaboo. Low ceilings, with thick columns holding up huge beams scattered throughout the place. The men's room latrine consisted of a long trough. I think I was fourteen or so on my first trip to this eighteen and older establishment. I am sure I did not look eighteen at the time. It didn't matter.

What did matter is you could hear everything from local legends like Little Village, NRBQ and Aztec Two step to national acts such as James Montgomery, James Cotton, and, for my first time seeing him, Johnny Winter. Famous acts would perform what were known as gas gigs. These were concerts where the acts did not expect to make too much money, but sold a lot of merchandise and covered a little more than their expenses. They were also wonderful ways to get close to fans. Blue Oyster Cult used to perform under the moniker Soft White Underbelly. The Shaboo had a reputation and was placed in between Boston and New York, so it was a natural choice for venues.

The place burned down from an "accidental" fire in the eighties, but not before I saw Johnny Winter there again, opening for and later backing up his hero Muddy Waters on his Mannish Boy tour. Pine Top Perkins, "Duck" Dunn on bass, James Cotton on harp and other luminaries of the blues world together in a fairly small, very close venue was something special. Fans in the house would reach forward and shake hands with a performer who stood eight inches up and directly in front of them.

Shortly after, I saw Muddy Waters in Springfield, Massachusetts, where Johnny opened again and then joined Muddy Waters for the main show. In that same venue I saw him open for George Thorogood and the Destroyers. Thorogood was a great stage performer, who knew how to work the audience like few others. Johnny, however, just played. It was the first time I ever saw an opener have three encores. Thorogood did not seem to mind and had Winter come out onstage at the end of the show to jam. Magic.

As good as he was on studio tracks, as heard on The Progressive Blues Experiment and Still Alive and Well, live was the best way to hear him. He fed off the audience and, more importantly, the other performers playing alongside. God songs were made great and great songs were made treasures. He hailed in a time where American rock and blues artists were stacking up against English rock blues artists and music was forever transformed. Old legends were brought back and new ones were born. As a producer, writer and performer, Johnny Winter made a lot of that happen.

He was only 70, but lived a mighty hard life.  R.I.P., Mr. Winter.

Posted by: topmaker at 05:41 PM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
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I am reading Volume 8 of the Index New Testament series. At the end of the first chapter, Misaka Mikoto has just caught Touma hanging out on a bench with three girls and a cat. Index is one, Levinia Birdway - a sometimes ally sometimes enemy to both Mikoto and Touma is another and the third, a girl named Lessar is the third.

Canon would have Birdway and Mikoto well familiar with each other, since they met back at the Hawaii arc. What I don't know is how the author will handle her and Lessar. They also met - quite awhile earlier in Russia - but it was a side story.  It was before any of the  girls -  Index included, had met Touma.

On to chapter two - where Misaka joins the party!

Posted by: topmaker at 09:09 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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"Yajima, I just want to make sure you fully grasp the situation. While you are trying to beat me up so that you can once again protect me (a headscratcher to be sure), the people you are allied with - your comrades - are destroying the town you and I grew up in. The place your mom, my mom and both our sisters are currently in, and, oh yeah! the place where the girl you love more than anything in the world is at. By the way, she is right at this moment in the building that is the main focus of your buddies' assault."

I just want to be sure you  got that before we start waving our dicks at each other. Good?"

Posted by: topmaker at 04:28 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
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