Monthly Archives: April 2011

Review: Supernatural – Heart of the Dragon

Posted on by

I’ve been a big Supernatural fan since about season 3. I remember when the show premiered, and I thought it was interesting enough. I never thought it would take off, only because shows like that never do. So I forgot about it. A couple of seasons later, sure enough, Supernatural is doing great and well. If you’re not sure what Supernatural is, here’s a short recap.

Supernatural is about two brothers who have grown up with the tragedy of losing their mother at a young age. Dean was a young kid and Sam was still a baby. It’s not enough that their mom had died when they were young, but their father finds out his wife was killed by a demon. Specifically, a yellow-eyed demon. Supernatural follows the “hunting” adventures of the Winchester brothers as they search for the demon who killed their mother and find their missing father.

The world of Supernatural is exactly the world that I would envision as a classic “urban fantasy” setting. This is a world where monsters exist. Vampires, werewolves, and zombies are only a small part of the world of Supernatural. The Winchesters, in their search for the yellow-eyed demon, end up becoming “hunters”; a small group of people who know what goes bump in the night, find them, and kill them.

That being said, the story of the Heart of the Dragon is about an ancient demon who trapped the soul of a Samurai and made it so his ancestors can call him up from the dead to do their bidding. Saying more about the story would probably reveal spoilers for those who haven’t read the book. Needless to say, after some mysterious deaths, the Winchester brothers are called to investigate. This book stays in the spirit of the TV show. The characters are exactly as they are in the TV show, and you won’t be disappointed. I Really liked the story. I’d recommend it for any fan of Supernatural.

As the author suggests, be sure to listen to some great tunes while reading the book. I personally recommend to at least listen to AC/DC and Blue Oyster Cult myself. There are plenty of songs to listen to, but nothing beats the classic Rock and Roll of the 70′s.

I give this book a 4 out of 5 stars.

Showing your support for the Japan relief effort

Posted on by

So I finally received my wrist band from the Lady Gaga Japan Earthquake Relief. It’s understandable if you don’t show your support by wearing the wristband since it’s Really Gihugic. I mean it’s big. I didn’t think it would be the size it is, but hey, what can ya do. Still, I did buy it and it’s a great cause. I also bought one of the Linkin Park Disaster Relief T-shirts as well. This looks Really cool and anyone who knows me knows I love my tees. There are numerous other ways to show support. Please consider buying a t-shirt or wristband today.

Google has put together a Crisis Response site and I think it’s Really great because it shows resources for many disasters that could use the help. Please don’t forget about the other areas of disaster. They could also use your help.

How are you helping out in any relief effort?

How do you eat sushi while sympathizing with Japan?

Posted on by

Recently there was a post at 8asians that cracked me up. It references a Dear Prudence article that basically asks the question of “how to eat sushi while sympathizing with Japan”. Personally, I just don’t Really understand WTH the awkward diner is Really asking. Are they Really that compelled to go table to table to tell them that they sympathize? Does she Really think that all Sushi restaurants are even run by Japanese people? I know a majority of Japanese restaurants in my area is run by Asians who are not Japanese. So how would we treat that situation? Wouldn’t that be an insult already since it would seem like you’re assuming that all Asians look the same? I mean Really. Sometimes it’s just better to not say a word!

I’m loving the responses at 8asians. Very funny. I thought I’d answer this one too. Here’s the original question.

Dear Prudence,
I was having lunch today at a Japanese restaurant, and I felt very insensitive enjoying my sushi without having a way to express my sympathy for the people of Japan over the recent earthquake and tsunami. I was at a loss as to how one might state that, though, without appearing rude or overstepping boundaries. After all, I didn’t want to act as if the people in the restaurant were more Japanese than American, but most were speaking Japanese to one another, so I’m betting more than a few have ongoing connections to the country. I felt that I was acting as an insulated American by not acknowledging the situation. What is the appropriate gesture at a time like this?

—Awkward Diner

Here’s my response:

Dear Awkward Diner,

Have you ever heard the expression: “If you’ve got nothing nice to say, it’s better not to say anything at all”? Maybe in this case, if you have something Really nice to say, but you have doubts on how to say it, it’s better not to say anything at all. Sometimes inaction is best. Why not just show your support by donating to the Red Cross? If you saw me and said something about that to me in a restaurant, I would admit that I would be very thankful. Just give to a cause. It’s easier to remain anonymous.