Do you know the digits to the Griffin’s residence?  I do. In one of the episodes, their number was displayed on a flyer they were passing out.  I forgot which episode it was, but wrote it down on a piece of paper long time ago.  I came across it yesterday while I was cleaning my room.

555-0314

We know this phone number  is fake but nevertheless, digits are digits.  It’s known that the show takes place in the fictional New England suburb of Providence, Quahog, Rhode Island.  Seth MacFarlane, the show’s creator, in an interview with local WNAC Fox 64 News stated that the town is modeled after Cranston, Rhode Island.

As election day approaches, extreme measures are taken by both parties to support their candidate.  But, a hidden message next to the Fox 5 News Logo?  Look very carefully at this video clip, and you’ll see a very familiar face.

I only have one thing to say.  Cindy Mccain is totally hot!

Sometimes I wonder how innocent the Disney movies are…and if it’s appropriate for the kids.  There have been many controversies with regards to the hidden, sexual messages embedded in their movies (”The Lion King” being one of them).  However, none is more explicit than the schocking scene in ”The Rescuers.”  This news is outdated, but nevertheless, I hope you find this interesting.

Okay, building a meaningful relationship with someone of the opposite sex.  I don’t handle rejection too well, and that’s why people like myself find solace in the virtual world.  But today I found out that relationships in the game world can also be nasty…especially went it comes to divorce.

A Japanese piano teacher was arrested for the murder of her virtual husband after an abrupt but messy online divorce.  The 43-year-old from the Kyushu province in southern Japan could face a maximum sentence of five years in jail if she is found guilty of killing off her digital partner.  She is accused of hacking into the profile of a 33-year-old office worker from Sapporo 620 miles away, whose avatar on the Maple Story computer game was married to her character until he unexpectedly demanded a divorce.

I learned two things for the story above.  First of all, I’m never ever going to get married online (geez! thanx alot!  I’m now even more of a commitophobe!)  Secondly…the lady was 43-years old, playing an MMORPG,got married online, got pissed and murdered her virtual husband…enough said.  Let’s all hope we’ll find a significant other by her age.

So kids, stay in school because it’s cool.

Go have fun and possibly find your significant others at Maple Story: http://www.maplestory.com/

Winnie the Pooh, probably one of the most memorable characters of all time, has once again proven his immense popularity.  According to Yahoo! News, “an oval pencil sketch by E.H. Shepard, one of children’s literature’s most famous illustrators, has been sold for approximately $50,000.”  The sketch “shows Pooh dipping his paw into a pot of honey while sitting at a table as Piglet and Tigger look on.”  Here’s an image of the Pooh sketch.

Man, I’ll be happy if someone would buy one of my Black&White Sketches (check them out here)!  Heck!  I would even pay somebody to take it!!!

Source: Yahoo! News

Also! Check out my comic strip based on Pooh – “Winnie the Poo“

Our new president-elect gives hope to many people.  They chant, “Nothing is impossible.  Anybody can be President!”  However, I would like to praise someone else for achieving the same.  Somebody who’s more dear to us.  Somebody who’s more fuzzy and cute.  Somebody who’s…not real?

On May 18th, 2008 the Japanese tourism ministry named Hello Kitty as its choice to represent the country in China and Hong Kong.  Yes, Hello Kitty is now the Japanese tourism ambassador.  Hello Kitty has an impressive resume and was selected to promote tourism in Japan.  Here’s an image to commemorate Hello Kitty’s political achievement.

I wonder when one of my characters will be the President of the United States.  Their running mate?  Sailor Moon.

Source: MSNBC

We are all in search for a perfect partner.  We at times fantasize about a movie character, a celebrity…  So, why not with a game character!  But…to actually marry an imaginary person?

A Japanese man, Taichi Takashita, fell in love with a comic character (name of his love not disclosed), and lead a campaign to allow marriage between human and the two-dimensional character.  Within a week he was able to accumulate 1000 signatures.

“I am no longer interested in three dimensions.  I would even like to become a resident of the two-dimensional world,” he wrote.

I totally understand him…  After all, I think Ariel from The Little Mermaid is totally HOT!

Source: news.com.au

Hadoken (Moving Flying Fist)!  Shoryu-ken (Rising Dragon Fist)! Tatsumaki-Senpu kyaku (Tornado Whirlwind Kick)!!!!  Obviously (or maybe not?) they are the Ryu and Ken’s special techniques.  But where did they learn these skills from?  Who taught them?  Of course, their sensei.  But there has been a cloud of rumors as to who that sensei is.  In the most recent installment of Street Fighter, Street Fighter IV, sensei’s identity has been revealed:  Gouken.

Ryu subtly implied his sensei’s name with his winning quote in the English version of Street Fighter II:  “You must defeat Sheng Long to stand a chance.”  However, it turned out that “Sheng Long” was a mistranslation of his special technique move, Shoryu-ken.  “Sheng Long” was still used to refer to Ryu’s sensei in the SNES version’s manual, the American Street Fighter comic book by Malibu Comics, and the arcade game Street Fighter:  The Movie.

Several characters were suggested to be Ryu and Ken’s sensei.  Goutetsu from the Japanese animated Street Fighter II Movie, and Gou-un from the 1995 manga Street Fighter II V Retsuden.

Gouken is believed to have trained with his brother Gouki (also known as “Akuma” in the English version) under the master Goutetsu (the same name previously associated with the mysterious identity of Ryu’s master).  Gouki then murdered his master, Goutetsu, and there was evidence to suggest that he also killed Gouken prior to the events of the Street Fighter Alpha series.

Gouken survived and returned to Street Fighter IV.  Check out his appearance in the newest installment of Street Fighter!!!

Gouken also trained Dan at one time, but then banished him after seeing that Dan was motivated by hatred.

Source: Wikipedia

Street Fighter was THE fighting game to play.  It paved the way for the future fighting games, and is still wildly popular even today.  It is a Legend.  However!  Today let’s talk about Sagat.  He first appeared as the final boss in the first installment of Street Fighter (Renamed Fighting Street for the TurboGrafx-CD port), and later returned as one of the Four Grand Masters in part two.  His special move “Tiger Uppercut” is still my favorite.

BUT!!! Did you notice his scar in part two, which wasn’t there in the first game?  Look at the images below comparing the two versions of Sagat.

Sagat’s scar is a brutal reminder of his loss to Ryu.  The scar was caused by Ryu’s special move “Shoryu-ken” (Rising Dragon Fist), a jumping uppercut.  The scar pattern is consistent with Ryu being right-handed and the directionality of Ryu’s uppercut.  This defeat propelled Sagat to master his “Tiger Uppercut,” which is a mirror image of Ryu’s “Shoryu-ken.”  Some scars heal…but Sagat will always carry the scar of defeat.

Here’s a short video clip from the Animated Movie “Street Fighter,” where Ryu’s “Shoryu-ken” leaves Sagat crippled.

A recent study have linked violent games to increased aggressive behavior among Japanese and American teenagers.

In this study the researchers evaluated three different groups of teenagers with ages ranging from 9-18yrs old.  These groups were further binned into two different categories:  teenagers in Japan or in America. Different modes of measurement was used to evaluate “aggression” in each group:  the 6 item Buss and Perry physical aggression scale, the 1-item self report measure of frequency of physical aggression (involving punching or kicking someone) in the last month, and an index of teacher, peer, and self-reports of physical aggression, such as hitting, kicking, and getting into fights in the last year.

The average odds ratio across the 3 samples was 2.10 (teenagers are two times more likely to express aggression than those not exposed to violent video games).  Furthermore, the findings also contradict another popular alternative hypothesis:  that only highly aggressive children (either by nature, culture, or other sociological factors) will become more aggressive if repeatedly exposed to violent video games.

This is one of the many studies suggesting a link between video games and violence.  Despite their findings this article should not be used to solely explain the phenomenon and should not be quoted to make this association.  First of all, each sample used different methods to measure “aggression.”  They are not normalized to one standard method.  Social and developmental psychologists typically define “aggression” as an act conducted by 1 person with the intent of hurting another person; it is not an emotion, thought, or intention.  Only two of the three measurements used in this paper accurately fits this definition.  Secondly, the odds ratio is low.  An odds ratio of 2.10 may be statistically significant, but is it clinically relevant?  A world renowned biostatiscian teaching at our school believes findings are only relevant when the odds ratio is 3.0 or above.  Good statistical analysis is largely dependent on the discretion of the researchers involved.  Finally, the time lag between the 1st and the 2nd assessment was approximately 4-6months.  It is too short to measure any kind of significant long-term effect a video game may have on any teenager.

Despite my skeptical view of scientific studies, I do quietly believe there is a correlation between video games and aggression.  Whenever I play Mario Bros, I have this irresistible urge to stomp on turtles…especially teenage turtles…who are mutants…and who practice ninjitsu…

Wanna know how violent you are?  Try the Buss and Perry physical aggression scale and see where you stand.

SOURCE: Yahoo! News, “Longitudinal Effects of Violent Video Games on Aggression in Japan and the United States“

My first American Otaku Wallpaper!  I took a picture of my old famicom (NES) games and made it into a collage.  I highly recommend positioning the image in TILE if you are using it as a desktop wallpaper because this image is a repeat.  Hope you like it!

The word “meh” from the seemingly immortal cartoon “The Simpsons” has entered the 30th edition of the Collins English Dictionary.  The term gained popularity since its initial use in a 2001 episode of “The Simpsons” in which Homer suggests going on a day trip to Bart and Lisa.

The dictionary defines “meh” as an expression of indifference or boredom, or an adjective meaning mediocre or boring.  Examples given by the dictionary include “the Canadian election was so meh.”

Other nominees for this year included jargonaut, a fan of jargon; frenemy, an enemy disguised as a friend; and huggles, a hybrid of hugs and snuggles.

SOURCE: Yahoo! News