Editorial

I was home sick from work the other day, and I found myself watching television (or trying to watch television, as most of my attention was focused on breathing through my nostrils, which had apparently been sealed shut while I was asleep). Normally I'm not a big TV watcher (especially considering what passes for entertainment these days), but I was really surprised at what I saw, so through the haze of Nyquil, I grabbed a pen and paper and took some notes on what I watched during the day. Here they are, semicoherent, but they make a point. (James Joyce eat your heart out).

7:00   Yuk. I can't believe I'm up this early and I'm this sick. Shouldn't I be sleeping? Oh look, there's POKEMON. Pikachu is kind of cute. Too cute, in fact. He must be destroyed. Oh, that must be the medication talking. This show is kind of cool. A little on the kiddie side, but it's not altogether unenjoyable. Now if the voice actor for Ash would just relax a little and not shout so much—I have a headache. Strangely enough, Pikachu has a cold in this episode. Pika-Pika-ACHOO.

7:30
JUMANJI. This show is animated so badly, it makes POKEMON look like NAUSICAÄ. I'm going to lie down for a while.

11:00
Various Soap Operas and talk shows. No thanks. Make chicken soup.

2:00
MARTHA STEWART. Find out that I should have served my chicken soup in a warm tureen. (Boy am I glad I didn't have company over!) Luckily, though, she showed people how to make one with clay you can find in your own backyard. (Just kidding).

4:00
SAILOR MOON. Everyone's favorite short-skirted heroine is back on the tube, and on the Cartoon Network of all places. Fans should be happy. But I don't think I'll ever be able to watch "Sailor Sez" without laughing. And this time I know it's not the medication.

5:00
DRAGONBALL Z. Interesting. DRAGONBALL Z is also now on the Cartoon Network every weekday. And these were the people who, during the POKEMON incident in Japan, were quoted as saying that they would "never show anime" because it's "too complicated" and "not story-based." (Nevermind that they were showing ROBOTECH at the time). Apparently, someone at the network changed their mind. Or actually got one. Either way...

In between SAILOR MOON and DRAGONBALL Z was something really bad (I think it was an old episode of SUPERFRIENDS). Don't know because I dozed off. Then there was that weird live-action show on Fox, MYSTIC KNIGHTS OF EGGNOGG or something.
The rest of the day degenerated into falling into and out of consciousness (though mostly out of it, and from the TV schedule, that was probably a good thing.)
It is interesting to note though, that we currently have three of the top animated series in Japan on TV here in the U.S. right now. Sure, they're not on prime time (or even in what many would argue is a "good" timeslot), or on network TV, or on Saturday morning, but at least they're on. Considering the other stuff that's stinking up the airwaves lately, we are fortunate.
And who says they're not educational? In between bouts of trying to breathe and trying to sleep, I learned that Pikachus get colds too. I also learned how to "Poke-Rap" but I'm not necessarily sure that it's (1) a good thing, or (2) something I'll try in public anytime soon. From SAILOR MOON, I learned that you can have confidence in yourself, even if you are kind of flighty and they use your video footage to do cheezy educational voice overs. And from DRAGONBALL Z I learned that I should probably stay the hell off the planet Namek (unless, of course, I have some Pokemon with me).

Ex animo,

Charles McCarter
Publisher/Editor in Chief

Charles McCarter

ASSISTANT PUBLISHER / DESIGN EDITOR
Keith Rhee

ASSISTANT PUBLISHER / DESIGN EDITOR
Chris Kohler

Chad Kime

Peter Cahill
Roderick Lee
Charles McCarter

Peter Cahill
Eri Izawa
Mark Johnson
Roderick Lee
Eric "Scanner" Luce
Egan Loo
Charles McCarter
Maria M. Rider
Keith Rhee
Rika Takahashi
Ivevei Upatkoon

Geir Friestad
Chris Kohler
Tom Larsen
Eugene Moon
Keith Rhee
Rika Takahashi
Tom Tjarks

David Ho
Geir Friestad
Jeremy Johnson

Eric "Scanner" Luce

Objective Consulting Inc.

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