Protesting Schools

Hello. Today my school held a protest. 

The school district overestimated the amount of students we'd have and underestimated the students of Rainier Beach. They've told us, about halfway through the semester, to choose a Core (language arts, science, math, social studies) teacher to move elsewhere. They gave us one week to raise over $90,000 or comply. The students of the moved teacher, who number around 150, or about 10% of our school, will either be shoved into other classes that will become too large or the class will be listed as dropped. Many others will have to change schedules as a result of this shuffling as well. Due to this some kids won't be able to graduate on time. If a teacher doesn't volunteer then the moved teacher will be a first year teacher, in compliance with union rules. The two teachers who would be in danger are Mr. Lugo, my AP US Gov teacher, or a science teacher I don't know. However, a teacher has volunteered. 

So today we spent the last half hour of school in a walk-out. We stood outside in the rain and yelled and shouted. We don't want to lose a teacher. I hope someone heard us. 

Fall First Impressions

Hello. I'm going to talk about the things I ended up watching. 

Tribe Cool Crew

I thought this would be a stupid kid's show but it's really cute. I love the energy and the character interactions. My favorite show this season so far. 

Garo: Honoo no Kokuin

It may end up very shonen-like. I'll keep watching for now. It was quite epic though. 

Log Horizon Second Series

The art is weird and the romance subplots are obnoxious but it's recognizably Log Horizon. Eh, of course I'll watch it unless it gets unbearable. Plot doesn't make sense so far though. 

Magic Kaito 1412

Disappointed. The art is horrible and the heroine's personality changed a bit. It's still Kid so I'll still watch but the art is really really bad. 

Sora no Method 

As expected, loli moe. Kinda weird. Not sure if I'll continue or not. 

Ai Tenchi Muyo!

Fan-service infested crap. I dropped it.

Shingeki no Bahamut GENESIS

Interesting with fun characters but I could tell it was heading towards a cringe-worthy confrontation scene with an often naked woman so I decided to drop it. It seems decent though. Just not my style. 

Inou-battle wa Nichijou-kei no Naka de

Better than the manga so far. It's fun. The annoying thing is they break the premise and also there's only one boy which is annoying. 

Hi☆sCoool! SeHa Girl

CG non-sensical crap. I dropped it. 

Daitoshokan no Hitsujikai

Fan-service infested crap. I dropped it. 

SHIROBAKO

Looks better than expected but not super good. Not sure what the plot is. 

Ore, Twintail ni Narimasu. 

I expected it to be bad but it was really funny. If there was fan-service I didn't notice. 

Sanzoku no Musume Ronja (Ronja the Robber's Daughter)

Still waiting for subs. 

Yuuki Yuuna wa Yuusha de Aru

Still waiting for subs. 

And that's a wrap folks. 

Fall 2014 Anime Season

Hello. I'm going to go through every anime running this season. Ready? Go!📺

Ganbare! Lulu Lolo 2

Studio: Fanworks

Source: Book

This is a little kid show. 

Verdict: not watching

Fuusen Inu Tinny

Studio: ?

Source: Book

Another little kid show. 

Verdict: no

Terra Formars

Studio: LIDEN FILMS (Senyuu, Miss Monochrome)

Source: manga

This is a sci-fi horror action manga that is on my reading list. 

Verdict: no

Tribe Cool Crew

Studio: Sunrise (Gundam, Aikatsu)

Source: none

Can't say much yet, but looks like a kid's sports shonen about dancing. 

Verdict: first episode

Aikatsu! 3rd Season

Studio: Sunrise (Gundam, Love Live)

Source: card game

Idol card game sequel. I haven't finished the first season yet. 

Verdict: no

Denkigai no Honya-san

Studio: Shin-Ei (Seki-kun, Area no Kishi)

Source: manga

I've read the manga. It's a shojo comedy that is a lot like Working, although I'd say a bit worse. It's a bit sexist, but enjoyable. It has no fan-service but talks about it. 

Verdict: no

Danna ga Nani wo Itteiru ka Wakaranai Ken

Studio: Seven (Ai Mai Mi, Strange+)

Source: manga

I've read it. It's a comedy. I like comedy, but it's a bit hard to understand due to in-language references. 

Verdict: no

Amagi Brilliant Park

Studio: KyoAni (Free, Kyoukai no Kanata)

Source: novel

I read the manga. It's a light novel-like harem with an OP lead. It's boring, cliche, and the fan-service is too much. 

Verdict: no

Gundam: G no Reconguista

Studio: Sunrise (Aikatsu, Love Live)

Source: none

It's Gundam. It's mecha. 

Verdict: no

selector spread WIXOSS

Studio: J.C.Staff (Bakuman, Golden Time)

Source: none

The second season of a card game anime. I haven't seen the first. I heard it's good. 

Verdict: no

Garo: Honoo no Kokuin

Studio: MAPPA (Zankyou no Terror, Teekyuu)

Source: live-action TV show

It's based off a live-action and it's a fantasy thing of some sort. 

Verdict: first episode

Log Horizon Second Series

Studio: DEEN (Meganebu, Sakura Trick)

Source: novel

I liked the first season well enough, but at the end it started to turn into a romance and got boring/cliche/annoying. I hope it'll turn out ok. I like .hack style into VR stuff. 

Verdict: yes

Magic Kaito 1412

Studio: A-1 (Aldnoah, Fairy Tail)

Source: manga

So excited! I love Conan and the Kid manga! It's a gentleman their shonen story. 

Verdict: yes

Madan no Ou to Vanadis

Studio: Satelight (Log Horizon, Nobunaga the Fool)

Source: light novel

A harem light novel adaptation. Fantasy. 

Verdict: no

Ushinawareta Mirai wo Motomete

Studio: feel. (Outbreak Company, Jinsei)

Source: visual novel

A harem horror? I can't tell. 

Verdict: no

Fate/stay night Unlimited Blade Works

Studio: ufotable (Futakoi, Ninja Nonsense)

Source: visual novel

Another fate/stay night. I haven't followed them past one manga, so I'm not that interested. 

Verdict: no

Cross Ange: Tenshi to Ryuu no Rondo

Studio: Sunrise (Gundam, Aikatsu)

Source: none

It seems like a train wreck. 

Verdict: no

World Trigger 

Studio: Toei (Pretty Cure, Toriko)

Source: manga

I'm reading the manga. It's a sci-fi shonen that I don't particularly like. The main characters annoy me. 

Verdict: no

Nanatsu no Taizai

Studio: A-1 (Aldnoah, Magi)

Source: manga

I like the manga. Minimal fan-service fantasy shonen. It's good. 

Verdict: no

Grisaia no Kajitsu

Studio: 8 Bit (Infinite Stratos, Tokyo Ravens)

Source: visual novel

I read the manga. It became hentai. I think this is a horror harem adult game. 

Verdict: no

Ookami Shoujo to Kuro Ouji

Studio: TYO (La Corda)

Source: manga

The manga is on my reading list. It's a shojo that's probably sexist. 

Verdict: no

Sora no Method 

Studio: 3Hz (new)

Source: none

Not much info but it may be loli moe. 

Verdict: first episode

Gugure! Kokkuri-san

Studio: TMS (Cardfight Vanguard, YowaPeda)

Source: manga

I read the manga. It was just comedy. I liked it well enough. 

Verdict: no

Kaitou Joker

Studio: Shin-Ei (Seki-kun, Area no Kishi)

Source: manga 

I've read the manga. It reads like a badly drawn fanfic of Magic Kaito. 

Verdict: no

Ai Tenchi Muyo!

Studio: AIC (Kotoura-san, Gen'ei o Kakeru)

Source: manga

I'm not reading the manga. This is ecchi sci-fi harem. This may be a redo of the first Tenchi Muyo. I think it's probably a really good show in its genre. 

Verdict: first episode

Shingeki no Bahamut GENESIS

Studio: MAPPA (Zankyou no Terror, Teekyuu)

Source: card game

A fantasy thing. Not enough info to see. Possibly shonen. 

Verdict: first episode

Orenchi no Furo Jijou

Studio: Asahi (Himegoto)

Source: manga

I read the manga. It's a comedy. I liked it. 

Verdict: no

Yowamushi Pedal GRANDE ROAD

Studio: TMS (Cardfight Vanguard, Hero Bank)

Source: manga

It's a biking shonen I'm reading. 

Verdict: no

Inou-battle wa Nichijou-kei no Naka de

Studio: TRIGGER (Kill La Kill)

Source: light novel

I read the manga. It's a harem slice of life but very bad. I like the concept. It's very escapism. 

Verdict: first episode

Calimero (2014)

Studio: Gaumont

Source: none

A little kid show. 

Verdict: no

Akatsuki no Yona

Studio: Pierrot (Tokyo Ghoul, Kingdom)

Source: manga

I read the manga. It's an ok period shojo. 

Verdict: no

Trinity Seven

Studio: Seven Arcs (Mushibugyou)

Source: manga

I haven't read the manga. It's more harem crap. 

Verdict: no

Gundam Build Fighters Try

Studio: Sunrise (Aikatsu, Love Live)

Source: none

Gundam mecha. 

Verdict: no

Hi☆sCoool! SeHa Girl

Studio: TMS/Jinni

Source: none

Weird Sega moe thing. 

Verdict: no

Daitoshokan no Hitsujikai

Studio: Hoods (BlazBlue, Kanojo ga Flag)

Source: visual novel

It's either ecchi harem or hentai harem. But it is a library thing. 

Verdict: first episode

Hitsugi no Chaika AVENGING BATTLE

Studio: Bones (Zetsuen no Tempest, Space Dandy)

Source: light novel

A fantasy psuedo-harem with an OP main and an ok story. A bit shonen-like. It's ok. This is the sequel. 

Verdict: no

Kiseijuu (Parasyte)

Studio: Madhouse (HXH, Mahouka)

Source: manga

A very well liked dark humor/horror manga on my reading list. It should be very good. High hopes. 

Verdict: no

SHIROBAKO

Studio: P.A. Works (Uchouten Kazoku, Glasslip)

Source: none

A moe otaku pandering show. Eh. 

Verdict: first episode

Psycho-Pass 2

Studio: Tatsunoko (Ping Pong, Pretty Rhythm)

Source: none

The sequel of an Urobuchi dystopian cop show I haven't finished. 

Verdict: no

Shigatsu wa Kimi no Uso

Studio: A-1 (Aldnoah, Magi)

Source: manga

I've read the manga. It's a musical shojo from the boy POV. 

Verdict: no

Ore, Twintail ni Narimasu. 

Studio: IMS (Inari)

Source: light novel

Non-harem? Fantasy magical girl harem comedy crap. 

Verdict: first episode

Sanzoku no Musume Ronja (Ronja the Robber's Daughter)

Studio: Polygon (Sidonia)/Ghibli (Totoro, Arrietty)

Source: book

Based on a Scandinavian children's book and directed by Miyazaki Goro. I'm excited for this one. 

Verdict: yes

Bonjour🎶 Koiaji Pâtisserie

Studio: Silver Link (Fate/Kalied)/Connect (Strike the Blood)

Source: mobile game

Otome game. Reverse harem with cooking. 

Verdict: no unless I hear good things

Girlfriend (Kari)

Studio: Silver Link (Fate/Kalied)

Source: game

Gal-game. Harem. 

Verdict: no

Yuuki Yuuna wa Yuusha de Aru

Studio: Gokumi (Atelier, Saki)

Source: none

Probably comedy moe fantasy. Not sure. Not much info. 

Verdict: first episode

Mushishi Zoku-Shou Second Season

Studio: Artland (Senran Kagura)

Source: manga

I read the manga. It's great. Watch it. 

Verdict: no

Donten ni Warau

Studio: Dogakobo (Mikakunin, Nozaki-kun)

Source: manga

I'm reading the manga. It's a period shonen. 

Verdict: no

That's it! Phew! Hah. Heh heh. Tired…

Notable Movies:

A Ghost in the Shell movie

Space Battle Yamato

PreCure

Attack on Titan

Cardfight! Vanguard

Chain Chronicle, whatever that is

YowaPeda

Rakuen Tsuihou, fan service crap

Happy views, peeps. 

Update

I went to Canada for the weekend to visit a dog. He was cute. 

🍁🐕

Greece was eliminated while I wore a Gekas jersey. He was the one who missed a PK. Mexico lost too. 

⚽T_T

Canada is very nice. The mountains an nature were wonderful and I ride on a disorganized ferry. We went to Revelstoke. 

🍁🗻🚢

I didn't get to see a bear. Oh well. 

🐻

Brother Rant

My little brother is really cute, good at everything, and he has a good personality. I love him to death. This time, I'll talk about how I spoil him too much. He's addicted to Minecraft and spends his days on the computer never moving. I'm nice, so I'll get him stuff like meals. It's not that he's unappreciative. My problem is that he's always on the computer. We have many computers in our house, but only one works. This is the one one with the ability to run Minecraft and also the only one that a person could hypothetically watch anime on. You see my problem yet? None of the other various devices and computers can properly connect to the Internet, play the software needed to watch videos, and allow sound to come through. Well, my brother wakes up before me, so I never get to watch anime. I probably have about one day a month when I can just power through a bunch of episodes. It's even less when school's in session, probably about two days a season. I'm too nice to kick him off and our parents are useless at enforcing anything. There aren't any good anime these days, but still! This is probably why I've never gotten into anime that much, plus my aversion to TV. Sure, I may watch one episode of seven anime per season, but I never continue and that number keeps shrinking. 

Mou!

Summer🌻

School's out 'til fall!

🌻🌴🎆🎐🎋🎇🐚🌻

I'll be asleep until September. ^^

I have two summer homeworks, which is morally unacceptable, but I'll be relaxing for a few months. Bye sophomores! Yo, juniors!（＾◇＾）

World Cup⚽

Brazil 2014, folks!

I'm a huge World Cup fan, here to update daily. I only have limited flag symbols on keyboard, so do forgive. 

My favorite teams: Netherlands, Mexico, US, Japan, Brazil, Germany, Greece

My guess of winner: Germany🇩🇪

3-1 Brazil, v. Croatia

Rooting for: Brazil

Brazil played badly, but their goalie was good. Opposite for Croatia. The ref was controversial. I like Neymar and Oscar was good. 

1-0 Mexico, v. Cameroon

Rooting for: Mexico

The ref was controversial. It was pouring down rain. Both teams were good. 

5-1 Netherlands, v. Spain🇪🇸 (reigning)

Rooting for:Netherlands

A hyped game turned to slaughter. Beautiful, beautiful slaughter. I like Schneider, but I can't spell his name. Will the Dutch take the Cup?

3-1 Chile, v. Australia

Rooting for: Australia 

Aussies were better than expected. I liked Chile's goalie and Sanchez, but I was watching with two Aussies in the room. I like Cahill on their side. The ref was nice. 

cont. 

Goodbye Seniors

It's that time of year again, when the seniors, the students in their fourth year of high school, leave for college or the workplace. 

I don't know many seniors, but there are three in my Japanese class who brought us cupcakes and one in JSU, Jewish Student Union, who I vaguely knew of. 

To all those who've supported us underclass men and been role models of convenience, thank you. 

Good luck out in the world. 

🌎

SPU & 🇺🇸

Another school shooting occurred at Seattle Pacific University. One student, Lee, was killed, and others injured. What made this different from other shootings? Well, I'm a Seattleite, so it's close to home. But more importantly, this time, another student, Meis, apprehended the shooter with pepper spray. Several other staff and students held him down until police arrived. 

This time, someone stood up. 

As someone growing up in the US, there's a lot of cultural impacts on my developing psyche. One is that I've been desensitized to shootings. I hear about a new shooting about three times a month, it seems. Recently we had the one in CA too. I honestly don't care when I hear about these. They're normal. Everyday news. If I lived in Europe, or Asia, would I act the same? Is every country like this? I don't know. But I've long given up on these as a fact of life. 

This time someone stood up. 

I can't describe how much this means to me. Living in a culture of violence, I didn't know it could be stopped. Now I have hope that I never had before. Maybe someday this won't happen. Maybe in the world my descendants live in, they'll look back on this time and think about how backwards people in the past were. All this is new to me. Maybe guns won't last forever. 🔫

World Conflict

Even though there's not much going on here in the US, there's sure a LOT of messy situations abroad.

1. Nigeria

Those poor girls were kidnapped by terrorists. I really hate terrorists. I'm fine with Islam, really, but a) don't force it on others, b) don't be violent, c) follow the law, and d) don't be sexist about it. 

2. Syria 

Yup, STILL going on. I feel sorry for anyone still in the country. The international community is useless, sorry. Dictators suck too. 

3. Venezuela 

Haven't heard anything for a few weeks, but last I did, they were having violent protests against the president. Plenty of bad conditions and deaths. The news, which being American couldn't care less about Latin America, hasn't really given details. 

4. South Africa and other African countries

They seem to be killing homosexuals now. How horrible! What's wrong with the world?

5. Brazil

The protestors and the government are still locked in mortal conflict. The protestors aren't going to get anything out of it, but the government shouldn't have taken on that burden. 

6. Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

Because it never ends. 

7. Ukraine

Eastern Ukraine is trying to be Russian, Russia's annexed Crimea, no one's doing anything, and the Ukrainian country is falling to pieces. Please, I don't want another Cold War. 

8. South Sudan

Still violence there too, folks. Rebels are rebelling over something. I've got no idea what it is. Isn't this a really new country anyway? Search me. 

9. Turkey?

Miners died. Are there still violent protests? I don't know because if the &@$!\%# self-centered US media. 

10. Egypt

The government is death-sentencing political opponents by the hundreds. 

I'm not sure about everywhere else, but I'm positive I missed some. I'm wishing good luck to everyone, please be safe. 🌎

In other news, I've finished step 2 of my Japan study abroad forms. 

Quick Post

AP season's over! Also, I'm feeling allergic and it's way too ☀ for Seattle, my beloved hometown ❤ 

Introspection

Things I often deal with:

Love

What is it? Is it physical attraction? The books tell me, no, it's more than that, because you can be attracted to many at once regardless of whom exactly you love. Is it, then, the simplicity of liking someone? An I in love with my favorite person? When I think, "This person in front of me is my favorite person," presuming I'm not talking about family, am I in love? The books tell me, no, it's different than that, because you can be close friends without being in love. Is it the passion? I don't know. I don't want it to be. I want it to be deeper than that. If my best friend is in love with me, and everyone else thinks we should be/are already dating, am I also in love? Is it ok for me to say, "No, I'm not in love with you?" Am I placing too much in the word? Where do you draw the line? Is it ok to love multiple people? To love despite gender, despite age, despite race? Is it ok to marry without love? Can love be attained or grown into? I can say I've never been in love all I want, but have I? In elementary school, when I admired and followed a boy with all of my heart, was that love? In kindergarten, when I was going to marry a classmate when I grew up, was that love? Was I in love with that best friend? Am I in love, now, with my "favorite person?"

Do question marks go inside or outside of the quotation marks?

Time

I think that children want to be adults, adults reminisce about childhood, and college students live for the moment. Everyone wants to be in college. I am a high schooler, but my entire life from middle school on, even before, was centered around wanting to go back. What does that make me? Depressed? Mature? Of course, some college students are still "children," wanting to hurry up and join the workforce. Some people probably had miserable childhoods and don't think about the past. I romanticize my days before "everything happened," most if it to me. Not by me. Is it wrong to live wishing to return? I picture my early childhood as green and lush, nature, and I remember games and friends and trusting teachers. I remember the innocent crimes committed in the folly of youth. Do I sound old yet? Is the meaning of youth to cherish the future that seems so bright? Is the meaning of maturity to accept a dull future and instead remember fondly? I don't want to be in high school, but I'm scared of the future as well. I just want to revert to my glory days. Is that so wrong? These days my future seems awful. I don't know what to do. I'll end up going to college and becoming a librarian, maybe translating as a side-project, maybe not. I'll eventually marry and have kids, probably adopted, or I'll stay alone. Why does that seem so boring? But I don't want to stay the way I am now, a child to my peers and an adult to everyone else. I hate this. I don't want to live the rest of my life watching anime and half-heartedly reading and playing video games. I'm sick of this. I hate the lack of uncertainty. All the same, I've set up this stupid boring life for myself and its selfish to leave it now. I guess I'll stay on this track for a whole longer. 

Hoenn 2

It's two days late, but Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire are coming out for the 3DS this November! 

(((o(*ﾟ▽ﾟ*)o)))

For those who don't know, Sapphire was my first and favorite Pokémon game. I'm excited for a horribly done sequel with good graphics!!

I can't wait!!!

Mayday! We've got Anarchists

So every year in Seattle on May Day the organized Anarchists protest downtown, rerouting bus routes and generally making a nuisance out if themselves. Scheduled anarchy has never made sense. Last year it took me an extra hour to get home, although this year my grandma picked me up. The traffic was awful all day and its strangely hot for some reason. 

It's also Golden Week, which is a Japanese period of time (4/29-5/5) in which there are many holidays. Since no one's reading this, I won't go into details. 🎏

Cherry Blossom Festival

Or sakura matsuri (桜祭り). 🌸

At Seattle Center this weekend was Sakura Matsuri, although the cherry blossoms have already ended, so it was more like a spring festival. It was quite fun. I like going to events where I can speak Japanese freely. 

Sakura are a symbol of spring and Japanese culture, two of my favorite things. Somewhere along the way Japan developed a fascination with the four seasons. I've seen Hokkaido posters that say "the land of four seasons" and such. I haven't got much to say this time though.

Have a nice spring! 

🌸🎎🎏🎒🎓

S. Korean Ferry

So, a South Korean ferry sank a few days ago and it made a big hubbub. It sounds like over 200 people may have died, which is pretty tragic. I think I should make a standard saying for events like this so I can express my "I feel sorry that people died and sorry for those who lost people" feelings properly. I guess that'll do for now. 

My Washington State has the most extensive ferry system in the world, or the best one, or something along those lines. I feel safe and at home on our ferry boats. I take them a lot during the summer, so I guess I felt something a bit when I heard about this. 🚢

KC Shooting & Spring 2014

So, two things. 

1. In Kansas City, MO, an ex-KKK killed three people in an anti-Semitic hate crime. When shootings happen every week, how can we as a society reflect on them properly? Why did nothing change since Newtown?

As a Jew, I'm unhappy. Why are people prejudice against religion/race?

2. It's spring 2014 anime season. I dropped Fūn Ishin Dai Shogun and Mahō Shōjo Taisen. I plan to watch M3: Sono Kuroki Hagane when it's translated. 

Atelier Escha & Logy: Alchemists of the Dusk Sky - A lighthearted fantasy anime about two small town alchemists and exploration. It's based off a video game. 

Blade & Soul - A darker (or attempting to be) fantasy anime about a rogue assassin out for revenge against an empire. It's based off a video game. 

Kamigami no Asobi - A reverse harem anime about a girl who is the only human in a school of around ten other male high school aged gods. It's based off a visual novel (otome game). 

Kindaichi Shōnen no Jikenbo R - A classic detective anime about a high school detective. It's the latest adaptation of the famous manga. 

Akarenbō Kishi!! Matsutarō/Notari Matsutarō - A classic sports anime about a delinquent who becomes a sumo wrestler. It's based off a manga. 

Mekakucity Actors - An electro anime about a group of kids with red eyes. It's hard to explain, so please look it up. It's based off the song series by Jin, which is amazing. I'm really excited about this! My emotional state right now: 

*･゜ﾟ･*:.｡..｡.:*･'(*ﾟ▽ﾟ*)'･*:.｡. .｡.:*･゜ﾟ･*

And that's all that passed my screening this season. If there's an anime you like that I'm not watching, it could be because I read the manga. 

NYC 2

I'm back and I had fun. NYC has no recycle bins. Nothing really of note, other than the latest mass shooting for America, this one in Texas. 

NYC

Going to NYC tomorrow, not excited in the least. The things I do for my religion…

Edit: Now that I'm packing, I'm excited. Will definitely take pics!

📷

Rain

This blog's name is really apt; we broke a record for most rain in March. It's been pouring all week. 

In other news, I finished the first form for the Japan exchange student program. 

Blog

It's pouring outside and I've started a blog. I read a bad book today and I've got lots of homework. That about sums up my life right now. I'll post interesting things from now on.