A long while ago, when the idols of Buddha and his host of disciples came to Japan, after traveling through China from India, they were very much vexed because the people still liked the little black fellow named Daikoku. Even when they became Buddhists they still burned incense to Daikoku, because he was the patron…
Eating Your Own Tail: Self-Publishing Websites
Are you interested in publishing your own book? Many anime bloggers aspire toward it, but when you start researching, it seems books about self publishing dominate self publishing. Self-publishing websites all parrot each other. They all sell their own books full of secrets and tips. While there’s nothing wrong with this, you have to wonder…
What Does Neckbeard Mean?
Neckbeard (and the lesser-used Legbeard) is a label used online across many different communities, including the otaku community. Academia tends to ignore terms like weeaboo and waifu and neckbeard, at least as I write this article. So I visit the best source of information for an Internet term: the Internet. This article will also have…
What Does Cringe Mean?
Cringe has become a popular word online. But do we know what cringe really is? Cringe remains closely related to awkward. Awkward is a catchall word for any situation that makes us feel uneasy, no matter how serious or trivial the situation is. After all, most of what we find online is ultimately trivial. Cringe…
Be a Creator, Not a Consumer
Because I work at a library, it strikes me how much people consume. Most of our circulation centers on DVDs and technology. Many patrons, particularly retirees, watch a lot of TV. A lot. We allow 8 DVD checkouts, including TV series. Many people visit the library three times a week and get their limit. Now,…
Bushido: The 5 Acts of the Samurai Code of Conduct
Bushido is the code of conduct for the samurai. It isn’t a written code. Rather, it was taught through example and through stories. As with any ideal, few people lived according to the tenants of bushido, but many aimed at it. Bushido comes down to 5 ways of acting. The teachings of Confucius and Mencius…