The Onigiri Issue 3
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[edit] Introduction
Issue 3! We’ve used the last two weeks to tidy up the onigiri based on your suggestions. We hope you will find this issue, not only fun and tasty,
but organized and easy to navigate! We also started up an Onigiri Forum which you're free to join: http://aabeta.proboards53.com/index.cgi ^-^
We’ve got a great range of articles this time; from Recipies to Writing advice! There’s also a new collection of reviews and featured to waste your summer away watching ^-^. Don’t forget to look at this issues great art submissions and evil puzzles! There’s also a lovely interview of me which you can just skip past :P.
If you’ve heard about the cyber pregnancy of one of our staff members then you can find out more in the Behind the Scenes (article) – it will prove my previous comment that we’re all mad is true! ^-^
Thankyou to all the staff members again! A lot have been running off on exciting holidays so others have been helpfully filling in the gaps. We’re still waiting for our souvenirs though! *hugs* aswell to new staff members
and random nice people who submitted work for this issue ^-^.
Don’t forget to check your horoscopes and have a great two weeks everyone! ^-^
[edit] Featured Media
[edit] Featured Media: Drama
In this Onigiri Issue, Featured Dramas are Game and Sports related.
- Special thanks to edsamac for screenshots in 'Featured Media: Music'.
 [edit] Liar GameArticle written by MochaCafe. |
 [edit] Ace wo Nerae!Article written by MochaCafe. |
 [edit] Attack No.1Article written by MochaCafe. |
[edit] Featured Media: Anime
[edit] Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha/A’s/StrikerSArticle written by Suicider |
[edit] Denno CoilArticle written by meiskan |
[edit] Nodame CantabileArticle written by edsamac |
[edit] Featured Media: Music
[edit] B'z - Eien no TsubasaArticle written by q_h |
[edit] Younha - Password 486Article written by q_h |
[edit] Angela Zhang - JourneyArticle written by q_h |
[edit] Mario & Nesty - Never Say GoodbyeArticle written by q_h |
[edit] Fan Wei Qi - Black Matching WhiteArticle written by q_h |
[edit] Reviews
[edit] Reviews: Drama
[edit] Ace Wo NeraeArticle written by meiskan "Aya Ueto plays Hiromi Oka, a girl who joins the high school tennis team because she idolizes the star player and wants to be just like her. The tennis team's world turns upside down almost immediately however, when the "cruel" new coach, Munagata Jin takes over and turns the practice sessions into Marine Corps boot camp.
He seems to have a particular interest in Oka and begins to train her personally, the the dismay of all of the other tennis players who begin to abuse her constantly and even go so far as to steal her equipment on a daily basis.
Oka is confused because she does not really take tennis seriously and just wants to be friends with everyone.
What will happen? Is she really the next "World Champion" as the coach leads us to believe that she is?" I WOULD give credit to the person who typed this description, if only I knew who did. Now moving on... Now this isn't the best drama I've ever seen in my days of life, but this is quite an inspiring one. Watching the characters play tennis really motivated me to go outside and play some tennis. Of course, the farthest I got was to my front door and I gave up (no tennis equipment). Links:
d-addicts
tv-asahi
Click to watch on CR |
[edit] Meteor GardenArticle written by iluffquincy "Shan Cai is a lower-middle class girl. Forced by her parents, she attends the Ying De University, a private school made solely for rich citizens. Besides being looked down upon by her wealthier classmates, Shan Cai angers Dao Ming Si, the leader of F4, a group that consists of four arrogant heirs of the most influential families in Taiwan and who no one dares to oppose. The university is dominated by F4 so when Shan Cai stands up to Dao Ming Si, which no one had ever done before, it made him develop an interest, later falling in love with her. However, Dao Ming Si's constant torture towards Shan Cai has made her hate him and instead, she falls in love with Hua Ze Lei, the second member of F4, who had kindly helped her during Dao Ming Si's attacks on Shan Cai. The story goes on to reveal the complex relationships that result. Will Dao Ming Si be able to get Shan Cai's love through his cold exterior?" Barbie Xu as Shan Cai Meteor Garden is the Taiwanese version of the Japanese drama, Hana Yori Dango, which are both derived from the manga, Hana Yori Dango. I loved Hana Yori Dango and feel that Meteor Garden is just as wonderful, if not better!
The drama itself is really great; it has an awesome casting and the boy-band, F4, is also derived from the drama. I love how it deals with everyday life situations by adding in comedy, without sidetracking from the issue.
Whilst the story seems to focus more on Shan Cai and her relationship with F4, at the same it also concentrates on her developing relationshp with Dao Ming Si. I fell in love with some of the characters, particularly the two male leads - Dao Ming Si and Hua Ze Lei! Meteor Garden was the first drama that I ever watched. The storyline is wonderful. Once I started watching it, I was immediately hooked. This drama is a perfect romantic comedy and I highly recommend it! Go ahead and try it! ^-^ Overall Rating: Very good, but sometimes a little overdramatic. 4/5 stars Links:
d-addicts
Click to watch on CR |
[edit] Nobuta wo ProduceArticle written by snowxxangel "So, this is the story about a popular boy named Kiritani Shuji. Popular boy meets unpopular girl and they fall in love, lol, no that’s just my fantasy ^__^ How it really goes: Kiritani Shuji is one of the popular guys who and liked by everyone, but, the truth is that he’s just bored so he manipulates everyone to like him. The only person he can’t manipulate is Kusano Akira, an annoying (to Shuji) weirdo who nobody takes seriously. Then a new student comes to school. Her name is Kotani Nobuko, and she’s so shy and that she becomes the main target of all the bullies. Shuji and Akira both decide that they will help her and make her the most popular girl in school, nobody however, can find out that they are cooperating to help Nobuko. But wait, the synopsis hasn’t ended yet, ‘cause it’s not just a cute story where a girl becomes popular due to the help of two guys, ‘cause there’s also a mysterious (sometimes creepy O_O) girl who doesn’t really want Nobuko to be popular and is willing to do something about it.
It’s a story about the friendship between 3 classmates, even though their personalities don’t match." Kamenashi Kazuya as Kiritani Shuji This is definitely one of my favorite dramas. One thing I liked about this drama were the unique characters, especially Akira, he’s just plain weird and funny ^__^ It’s a story about friendship, but there still was some chemical attraction between the main leads. Shuji&Nobuko and Akira&Nobuka are both very good combinations. Even though Nobuko is the one who’s being ‘produced’, you also see some character development at the two other leads. Sometimes I did had a wtf-moment =| But the good parts of the drama make up it for it ^__^ Rating: It has comedy, 2 lovely guys, a little bit of romance, a slice of life and 4 ½ stars out of 5 stars! ^__^ The wtf-moments made it a bit less good, but it’s still a very cute story, I’m sure that everyone will be touched after watching it :] Links:
d-addicts
Click to watch on CR |
[edit] Reviews: Music
[edit] BIGMAMAArticle written by lokita While searching for information I discovered they share their band name with a well-known Korean pop group, making it rather difficult to find much information about them. However, I prevailed! I managed to find their website (http://bigmama-web.com/). BIGMAMA describes their music as a blend of pop-punk and emo. (I know, I know, but please don't let that stop you from listening to them. They're a fantastic band). The band consists of five members: 金井 政人 (vocals and guitar), 柿沼 広也 (vocals and guitar), リアド 偉武 (drums), 安井 英人 (bass), and 東出 真緒 (strings). The single starts off with the song Moo. The vocals are so lovely - think RYOHEI with a rock flair. I simply cannot get over how wonderful this man's voice is. :3 Sometimes you'll come across a song that, while not short, seems to be over as soon as it starts. Moo is one of those songs. It's really interesting hearing strings in a pop-punk song. I was a bit iffy about the combination at first, but I was pleasantly surprised; they work really well together. CHAIN is the second song on Boys Don't Fly and it's yet another great song. Unfortunately, it appears that the whole seems-like-it-ends-as-soon-as-it-begins feeling is a constant thing with BIGMAMA. I don't particularly like incredibly long songs (I tend to get bored fairly quickly), but I definitely wouldn't mind listening to some longer-than-normal songs of theirs. The single closes with the song Do You Remember? It's still just as upbeat as the previous two songs, but with more of a pop flavor, as opposed to the pop-punk sound the rest of Boys Don't Fly has. Jpop fans might prefer this song over Moo and CHAIN, though I think that all three are absolutely fantastic. This is definitely a band worth checking out. |
[edit] Death Note OST IIIArticle written by lokita The soundtrack includes some remixes of songs featured on earlier OSTs as well as a number of theme songs (L, Mello, and Near each have three, Light has two, Mikami has one, and Misa has a whopping seven)One of L's themes (aptly titled L) features church bells, which I absolutely love, though I also find it incredibly sad. Although I could not - and still can't - tolerate Near, I must admit he has some damn cool theme songs. Mello's themes are completely badass. Whereas Near's songs featured the piano, Mello's take on a more hard rock approach, which I think suits his character well. Mikami's theme is stunningly beautiful and reminds me of something you'd hear in Ouran. However, although it is extremely lovely, I don't think it portrays his character at all. Technically, Misa only has five themes, with one of them having three different versions. Those of you that have watched the anime will know the song - it's the one she sang in episode 25. That version is included, as well as an orchestra version and a piano version. The soundtrack falls short with the last two songs, though, which are the tv versions of the opening and ending themes - both of which I have hated from the first moment I heard them. |
[edit] Reviews: Manga
[edit] Akuma de SourouArticle written by lokita The story focuses on two characters, Kayano and Takeru, and whether or not they can maintain a relationship after discovering that they will soon become step-siblings. I found Akuma de Sourou to be captivating enough that I read the entire series in one sitting. I even found myself rooting for the two, despite the slightly incestual nature of the story. However, one thing I was disappointed with was the latter part of the series after their parents find out that the two have been involved in a year-long relationship. The parents (Kayano's mother and Takeru's father) are absolutely fine with it and even encourage them to be together and are more than happy to continue all living under the same roof (along with the new baby). Somehow I just don't see that actually happening in real life. Although the manga has eleven volumes, I like to think of it as only having ten with a two-chapter (volume 11) epilogue. Unfortunately, I found the epilogue to be even less realistic than the manga's ending: Kayano and Takeru get married. Despite the ending, it really is a great series and will be sure to keep you entertained while you're reading it. Also, the artwork is gorgeous (and by artwork, I mean Takeru. Mmm). Though the manga has been scanlated by Hush, it has been licensed by CMX Manga and is available in America. |
[edit] Reviews: Games
[edit] The Legend of Zelda: Twilight PrincessArticle written by Suicider As you begin to play, you can’t help to think that this is pretty much like OoT. Well at least for the first half, but as the game progresses it sharply divides the old from the new by way of an engrossing storyline that brings Link (The Hero) into an alternate realm known simply as the Twilight. The start of Twilight Princess is just like any other Zelda game but with its own twists. There's a princess named Zelda, a land called Hyrule, and a world that's on the verge of destruction if you don't do something to save it. This time around you must save the land of Hyrule from the approaching darkness known as the Twilight. You start out as Link in the village of Ordon. One day, your village is raided by beasts riding on the backs of boars that kidnap the children and leaves Link for dead lying in a forested spring. When Link comes to, he begins his search and is suddenly pulled into the Twilight Realm, where he finds that things are quite different—frankly, he’s been transformed into a wolf and quite sadly, captured in a cage! With the help of Midna, a creature of the Twilight that rides on your back, Link escapes from the cage and eventually the Twilight where he begins his journey to save Hyrule from the creeping darkness. Twilight Princess is truly a masterpiece. There is nothing but praise for the controls that the Wii has to offer and there is no other like it. By gesturing with the Wii remote, you can easily and effortlessly swing the hero's sword. Targeting with the Wii-mote opens up a new level of level of speed and accuracy never before experienced in Zelda and within a matter of minutes you won’t be able to go back to a regular controller. The visuals of TW are impressive and awe-inspiring even for a Gamecube port. The game world is vast and beautifully designed by Nintendo’s artists. For example, the shimmering water is so realistic that many could hardly believe it was originally a Gamecube game. Link features better details than before! But alas, you can find some oddities here and there if you’re looking for them; some of the textures look blurry and incredibly unprofessional of a game of this caliber, however they aren’t much of a complaint. It still is an impressive game inside and out no matter how you look at it. The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess is, in my opinion, the greatest Zelda game ever created and one of the best launch titles in the history of launch titles. Whether you’re riding on your horse across Hyrule Field or fighting the evil that is the twilight you can expect to have great game from start to finish. You’re looking at 50 hours of gameplay and that’s not even counting all the side quests and mini-games. If you’re looking for a game that’s like no other then this game is a definite must buy and if you don’t then buy one already, you won’t regret it! 9.5/10 – Highly Recommended Presentation – (8/10) A truly epic new Zelda complete with a compelling, darker storyline, enhanced controls, and brand new gameplay mechanics. Although, the lack of voice acting and orchestrated music were unfortunate. |
[edit] Resistance: Fall of ManArticle written by Suicider For those who don’t know, Resistance FoM is a first person shooter that follows a formula for games made by Insomniac: Lots of weapons, fluid graphics (at 1080p/HD quality) and lots of explosions. The game takes place in an alternate reality when creatures appear in Russia and have taken over practically all of Europe. You play as Sgt. Nathan Hale, an American soldier fighting for the future of humanity. Although quite frankly speaking, the storyline isn’t all that great. You won’t see any character development in games like these, but needless to say, people at insomniac just needed an excuse to blow up aliens and who could argue with that? Just to clarify, this is a Next-Gen game. Everything has been enhanced for a first person shooter. All weapons have its advantages and disadvantages in both single and multiplayer with an added element of tactics. For instance, the Auger is a weapon that can shoot through walls, but it isn’t as powerful as the almighty shotgun. The enemy’s AI has also been revamped. In the hardest difficulty setting, enemies will come in pairs or groups and will hide themselves whenever they want. Meaning if the snipers don’t get you, the 22ft spiders will. As far as the graphics are concerned, in complete HD, the game has an apocalyptic feel in and the sound is just stunning. The entire experience can give a very ambient feel throughout most of the game. The game’s Multiplayer feature was given a lot of attention such that games can be played with up to 40 people. It features many play modes very similar to that of Unreal Tournament. There can be lots of customization done to the appearance of your character and the frame rate is impressive as well, meaning almost no lag. Resistance Fall of Man became a huge hit when it came out along with the PS3. Although some claim it doesn’t compete with the Xbox 360’s Gears of War, many claim that they are just two very different games. This game is a definite must if you have a PS3. I give it a 8.5/10 – Recommended Presentation – (8/10) A nice blend of environments between the WW2 era and alien technology. |
[edit] Gears of WarArticle written by Suicider The story of Gears of War is not as complex or well explained as we’d like it to be, nor are the characters all that deep, as we know little to nothing about them or their individual storylines. What we do know is that humanity has been all but exterminated by a race of lizard/bug-like monsters called Locusts, who tunnel underground and enter battle through what is called Emergence holes. Most of your time within the game will be spent on killing the enemies that spring from the emergence holes, and finding the best cover to give you the best angle on the action. Taking cover and flanking enemy positions is vital in Gears of War, as enemy A.I move and fight realistically and relentlessly hard. Realistic combat such as dust, sparks, and smoke from weapons is just a little bit of the near perfection that is Gears. Your player character knows he’s in danger. This is no picnic with your grandmother on a Sunday morning with fresh shorts. The player will quite literally throw himself against walls for cover, blind-shoot over his head while hiding behind low walls and corners, and reload realistically. If you crack under pressure and screw up, your gun will jam and leave you vulnerable while you hate yourself forever for sucking so much and failing at life. Gears of War gives 3rd Person Shooter fans everything they want in a game – realistic and interesting looking environments, gritty, brutal action and a very dynamic take-cover system. GoW’s graphics are the best the 360 has surrendered so far – surfaces shine with the reflection of the sun, the ground becomes slick looking from the rain, and the character’s faces are so realistic you’d swear you were looking through a window at them. The guns in GoW are satisfying and varied, despite how few of them there are. The game gives you all the basics – a couple of rifles, a sniper, shotgun, and grenade launcher. The addition of a crossbow that fires exploding arrows is a good touch, but our personal favorites would have to be the Lancer and the Hammer of Dawn. The Lancer is a standard assault rifle that will be the weapon you’ll keep coming back to for most of the game; it fires in full auto and has a pretty good range and damage. However, the most appealing aspect of this weapon by far would be the Chainsaw bayonet. You may think it impractical to implement a chainsaw as a standard rifle bayonet- but then every 3rd Person Shooter fan on the planet will promptly slap you in the face. 9.0/10 – Highly Recommended Presentation – (9.5/10) Epic has created an immersive universe that will probably turn into a sequel, a movie and a licensed breakfast cereal. Amazing cinematic flair, gritty attitude and a one-of-a-kind artistic style. |
[edit] Articles
[edit] Writing Advice“In anything at all, perfection is finally attained not when there is no longer anything to add, but when there is no longer anything to take away.” -Antoine de Saint-Exupéry (1900-1944) “Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.” -Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519) Since Shakespeare first cornered the market on great writing and universal themes, aspiring writers have suffered the delusion that the best prose is flowery and grand in scope. They remember reading Hamlet in high school or in college and having to look up two words for every one they knew. Later, they decide to write. They remember Shakespeare and thumb the thesaurus raw. They write scores of words that don’t mean anything, and frustrated readers are left searching for a narrative thread amid the clutter. (Shakespeare’s other contribution to modern writers is a maddening preoccupation with the sun. We feel compelled to describe it, particularly the way it rises and sets. Its rays aren’t simply ‘yellow,’ but ‘effervescent,’ ‘luminous,’ ‘saffron,’ ‘ochre,’ or ‘goldenrod.’ The colors aren’t colors, but ‘hues,’ ‘shades,’ or ‘patinas.’ All of this while beginning its majestic descent towards its perigee on the flaming horizon which beggars the magma tears of Apollo. What’s wrong with, “The sun set?”) Simplify, simplify, simplify. Technically complex sentences are more difficult for your reader to follow, which makes them more difficult to write well. It seems counterintuitive, but labyrinthine sentences are often the mark of a lazy or unskilled writer. It takes thought and effort to express a complex idea in a simple and direct manner. That's not to say you should abandon adjectives, or avoid description. Detail is critical to your story; it provokes the reader’s imagination or provides important information. But each one should give form to the narrative or be important to the story in some other way. We all know what the setting sun looks like. Unless you’re writing in Braille, skip it. The principle of simplicity also applies to the words you choose as you write. I heard this quote a long time ago, and it’s good advice: "Your dentist will ask you, 'Are you experiencing pain?' If his own kid was in the chair, he would ask, 'Does it hurt?'" Big words are tempting to use. They seem to carry a certain weight, almost in proportion to their length. As if they say, “I am a serious writer. Pay attention to me; witness my expansive vocabulary!” But the purpose of writing is to communicate something to the reader--not to illustrate the genius of the author. Unnecessary or needlessly elaborate words distract the reader and frustrate this basic goal. Don’t abandon your graduate school vocabulary, but place a premium on efficient use. Big words, obscure words, made-up words—they have their place. Use them sparingly, in the right context, and they will become twice as effective as when littered through your text like verbose orphans. Here is an excellent example of perfect word choice: “[A row of corpses] were discalced to a man, like pilgrims of some common order for all their shoes were long since taken.” -Cormac McCarthy, The Road ‘Discalced’ means “(chiefly of members of certain religious orders) without shoes; unshod; barefoot.” McCarthy could have used ‘barefoot’ or another simple word, but in the context of The Road's religious themes, ‘discalced’ best describes the idea McCarthy is trying to convey to the reader. No other word is as good. Also note how McCarthy surrounds ‘discalced’ with common words—an elegant juxtaposition. It stands out, but in a way that adds, rather than detracts, from the narrative. Practice simplicity. Be efficient. Strip out every word without purpose. Your readers will thank you. Article written by Hopchow |
[edit] Net Radio Faces CrisisSo, here I am, on a lazy tuesday afternoon home from school for the summer with a room that looks like a tornado has just torn through it. I'm facing the daunting task of cleaning said room-- which won't be easy without boxes to pack things in--but I push my sleeves up to begin anyway. The thing about me and cleaning is, I can't do it in complete silence; it becomes tedious, then, more of a chore than it should be. So I click on to the computer to open up a radio station because the computer is closer to my room than the stereo is. I go to a big one--one most of us are familiar with--called Launch!Yahoo. It's quick, it's easy, and you can even rate the songs so it pays attention to the kind of music you like instead of running off a prescribed playlist. I like to be kept in suspense. But when I try to pull my station up, I don't get the instant gratification I'm looking for (and have come to expect from the Internet) but a message about complete radio silence that redirected me to a cause I had never, ever heard of. Internet radio, if you didn't know, is a pretty big industry that reaches about 72 million listeners a month. It provides an outlet for lesser-known musical artists who may be unable to break into broadcast radio; it allows for a diversity in broadcasting; it is universally available and not restricted to geographical area. That said, the industry is also relatively new and hasn't developed a stable method to rope income. Advertisements are done a variety of ways, through banner ads and traditional audio ads as well as corporate sponsorships. The crisis that internet radio is currently facing--and the crisis that led to a Day of Silence implemented on Tuesday, June 26 that hindered my cleaning jive--is a dramatic increase in royalty fees that could completely destroy internet streams altogether. In March 2007 the Copyright Royalties Board (CRB) increased Internet radio's royalty burden between 300 and 1200 percent--despite the fact that Internet radio streams already pay more than broadcast and satellite. The ruling, due to go into effect July 15 and retroactive to January 2006, will seriously damage the creative and diverse community of Internet radio. It would shut down smaller streams and force the larger into drastic steps of action which could put large labels in charge of playlists and rotations. The more I read about this, the angrier I got; we already face this sort of deregulation in regular broadcast radio, the kind of deregulation that leads to me dialing in three different radio stations when I'm driving in the car and hearing the same bad rap song on all three at the same time. (No offense to anybody who likes rap.) The same can be said for any number of Top 40 songs, especially for the Clear Channel stations that have the same playlist no matter where in the country you are. The Internet, we say, has always provided something unique for everybody who has access to it. The development of Internet radio is no different. I imagine the same was said of broadcasts when they were first invented a century and a half or so ago; a way to share with other people, to connect. But when the industry is squashed by unfair fees and turned into an outlet to again overpromote the same five artists rather than providing an equal opportunity to the large and the small, we kind of lose the point of it all. Having done some amateur work in internet radio myself, the loss of the small stations and the deregulation of the large would just follow a disgusting industry trend and take the fun out of something originally meant to be humanitarian and not just about the money. To find out more, visit [Save Net Radio]
Article written by kyonkichi |
[edit] Recipies: Cheese Fried Rice and OnigirisArticle written by eamiru07 Cheese Fried Rice [for 1 plate, American size a.k.a huge] Ingredients: - One plate of white rice - Cheddar cheese - Prawns [up to you] - 2 eggs - 2 Red onion chopped - Beef/chicken fillet [up to you] - Sunflower oil/butter - Black/white pepper, salt, and/or msg.
1. Heat up the wok, and pour in 4 teaspoons spoons of oil, and a little butter. 2. Put in chopped onion. 3. After the onion is a yellowish colour, put in eggs and..... mess it up. Lol. 4. Add the prawns and meat. 5. Wait until the prawns turn red and the meat is edible. 6. Now, you can put in the rice, mix it with the meat, prawns and eggs. 7. Put salt and/or msg, white pepper in 8. Put in cheddar cheese [chop it in small dice shapes]. Cook until the cheese melts. 9. Now, put the fried rice on to a microwaveable plate. 10. Put the rest of the cheese on the top of the fried rice, and heat in the microwave until the cheese melt. 11. Now your cheese fried rice is ready.
Onigiri [Rice Ball] INGREDIENTS: Makes 8 Rice Balls - 4 cups steamed Japanese rice - 8 strips of dried nori (seaweed) - Salt to taste -*For fillings: ume (pickled plum) / grilled salted salmon PREPARATION: Grill salted salmon slices. After the salmon cools, tear it into small chunks and set aside. Cook steamed rice. Put about a half cup of steamed rice in a rice bowl. Make a dent in the center of the rice and place fillings, such as ume (pickled plum) and grilled salmon. Wet your hands in water so that the rice won't stick. Rub some salt on your hands. Place the rice in the rice bowl on your hands. Form the rice into a round or a triangle, by pressing lightly with your both palms. Wrap the rice ball with a strip of nori. |
[edit] Logical Fallacies and Your BrainThe Culprit: Suppressed Evidence What it means: Holding back one side of an argument to glorify your own. This way you can make your argument stand out more, and be able to sway people to your side by briefly admitting another side discreetly while pushing your own. You can also use reverse psychology in it to make it seem like you're going the other way. Of course it isn’t actually a true and blue fallacy to downplay other people’s arguments or evidence for that matter so feel free to do the same. How to beat it: More people than you realize fall for this. Actually, I fall for it sometimes. A simple way of trying to get out of it would be to look at both sides- but wait! When looking at two sides of things, try to remember that when it comes to most debatable topics it always comes down to someone's opinion, beliefs, and/or the way they were raised. Try to be level headed and not be swept away by what simply sounds good. Remember, evidence is vital! Le Example: Today, everyone knows all about the tobacco industries. They know all about the malicious intent they have, and what exactly is inside those so called cancer sticks. But before most of our time nobody knew what exactly was in them. No one said anything about it being bad for your health and that you could end up with a serious health problem or worse yet, cancer. For years nobody said anything, and for a good reason too- profit. If you knew something could kill you, would you still do it? Today the word is out about how they really affect you, or at least some of it is. Even on some of the websites of tobacco companies encourage you to quit before it’s too late. But even then they still increase the amount of nicotine in cigarettes to keep most people from doing just that. Article written by Moose17 |
[edit] The Hook: Literary Theory 101Just how important is the opening for any literary work, especially major ones like epic and novels? To keep things simple, let's compare two books of the same genre, science fiction. Consider this new book called Star Corps. It began on the first page:
It seems like every other fictional book these days follows the same structure when writing it's introduction. Begin with the name of the main character, then write something boring about the scenery (theoretically to establish mood). It gets worse... the entire first chapter is nothing but a fancy description of the scenery, then a quick conversation between a soldier and our friend Sgt. Aiken, establishing that there's some kind of conflict going on. End chapter. Sorry, but that introduction does not hook me at all. In fact, it makes me want to stop reading the book, thinking it's just going to be another average "soldiers in outer space" yarn. Granted, I'm not petty enough to set a book down because of a bad introduction, but in literature, first impressions are everything, and an author must make a good attempt to make his/her introduction interesting and unique, a "hook" that will draw his/her reader into the story. It's no surprise many teenagers don't find books fascinating these days, let alone pick up a book. Now consider, for comparison, the opening passage from Robert Heinlin's masterwork, Starship Troopers.
Article written by CrashAriMP5N2O |
[edit] Pointless(Disclaimer - I am not to be taken seriously... remember that.:) ) I recently made an odd statement regarding a certain individual I despise greatly. Whenever he goes online on Yahoo! Messenger, I quickly switch to invisible mode so that he doesn't see me. Now, you may ask, "why don't you just make yourself invisible to him permanently?" Unfortunately, I use a different messenger program (Adium, to be exact), and I have yet to figure out how to do just that. So for the mean time, I resort to manually switching to invisible mode. When he finally goes offline, I ask the person I'm chatting with whether or not they think it's okay for me to go back to visible mode ~ because if I do, and it just so happens he was simply disconnected, I'd have to switch back to invisible mode when he goes online again, and that would make it seem (even more) obvious that I'm trying to avoid him. So why, pray tell, do I have to do this? The truth is, I'm actually doing the idiot a favor. He used to be my friend - until he did something utterly stupid that completely tarnished the way I look at him. Now, I think he's a stupid fool who over-dramatizes his whole life and thinks the entire world revolves around him. To top that off, he thinks I've forgiven him, and he always likes to act all “cute” around me, thinking he's being funny when he's really just being a jerk. You know what, let's just call him MOE. Yeah... Moe. The truth is, I'm doing Moe a favor because if he starts talking to me, I might answer back with dirty words and naughty phrases, the result of which will be an inevitable course of rants that will lower his self-esteem to that of a dung beetle. Yes, I am capable of doing that. :P Speaking of dung beetles, that's the point I was trying to get to. I actually used this phrase when explaining to a friend of mine why I avoid Moe, and my friend replied as if to question how I thought dung beetles had low self-esteem. I reasoned that they probably have to have issues for them to resort to pushing around big balls of shit. But my friend wondered if it's possible that they could be proud little creatures, contrary to what I thought. The next thing I could think of was, maybe they could be proud creatures because they literally "don't give a shit?" Hardee har har... So what's my point? I think we're all quite like dung beetles. In fact, I think everyone I know (me included) is like a big dung beetle in the sense that we like pushing (if not dragging) around the big load of crap in our lives, which we like to call stress. We pile it up on ourselves, make ourselves look like we're the most miserable people on the earth and expect people to pay attention to us - and yet the truth is, we're proud little creatures who couldn't give a shit less if we wanted to. We like thinking we're all this and that and we think we're the center of the world. Our view is what's important - our own, self-centered views and the big load of crap we bring along to prove it. It's sad though that I have to use dung beetles to prove my point (if there was any to begin with). I give my regards to MOE. Because of him, an army of angry, pissed off dung beetles (or dung beetle junkies) are going to raid my home and crucify me. Article written by edsamac |
[edit] Behind the Scenes of the Onigiri[edit] animoo_x's labourImage The Onigiri House As some of you may know, animoo_x (AKA Claire/Moox) has given birth to a baby boy by the name of Gabriel (Gab or Gabby for short). Most of you were not there at the time of the birth, so you all will experience the birthing period throughout this article. Please note that the father was not there at the time. Luckily witnesses of the birth gave him news of the labor. However, we may not show the whole transcript of the event, due to some reasons. I’m terribly sorry. However, we may show you part of the transcript. It all began at around 6:12 pm EST on Monday June 18th, 2007 in the Staff Lounge… Image Moox (mother): STEFFI! I THINK MY WATER’S BROKE!!!! *cries* Mochacafe (midwife): wah, ok breath HokiePokie (evil baby): UH OH s_j_b (godmother no.1): O_O *runs to Claire* *grabs the bag* Moox: what do i do? what do I do? what do I do? _s_j_b: someone get a chair! Crash (teacher of how to farm shrimps): oh noes! _s_j_b: someone else get the army car started! (Note: the onigiri staff drives an army car b/c we can’t fit a limo onto the onigiri house property) Image Mochacafe: midwife here move Crash: *sends a plumber* _s_j_b: plumber! Moox: what do I do?? wheres henz???? Mochacafe: mover her onto the sofa Moox: wtf is a plumber doing here? _s_j_b: heave ho! Crash: the water broke? _s_j_b: oh dear _s_j_b: *trips ari over* :P Crash: I just realized how stupid I am XD And so Moox began her breathing exercises. Mochacafe: longer exhale with a “who” or “puh” ok I see the head Moox: WHAT?!! Mochacafe: no wait that’s just the sofa Moox: o_o _s_j_b: haha! Crash: *falls over* Moox begans to push Meanwhile Hokie is doing his usual forum monitoring….: HokiePokie: guys I’m counting threads ******** has resurrected (sorry we’re not releasing the name of the person resurrecting some threads for privacy reasons) Steffi runs to get Mochacafe gloves. HokiePokie: I’m sorry Moox’s baby is my rival _s_j_b: ohhh feel free to keep counting then! Moox: ok puuuuuuuuuuuush _s_j_b: *runs to hold claire’s hand* Crash: and I’m the grand supreme foremost major minor superior arbitrator Moox: lovely (!) Mochacafe: I see it, the baby Suicider (who was sick at the time): whoa, whats happening? Two more pushes! Moox: omg omg…the pain!! _s_j_b: ahh my hand worse pain!!! Mochacafe: aaaahhhh the baby’s out! hip hip hooray! Suicider: congratulations And then the naming of the baby started, even if the father, Henz_lan (AKA Henz) wasn’t there. And so baby Gab was born at 11:22 pm GMT. Article written by mochacafe |
[edit] HoroscopesArticle written by The Onigiri Capricorn 22 December - 20 January This month’s prediction: Your luck will get a boost within the next few days, however, don’t get carried away. Compassion is a virtue but it’s also good to deal with issues using common sense. Aquarius 21 January - 18 February This month’s prediction:. It’s a shame that your genius isn’t always appreciated! Give people time to trust you and your ideas, rather than despairing. Patience itself is a genius trait. Pisces 20 February - 21 March This month's prediction: Friends are important but you shouldn't forget your family. Though it is good to appreciate what you can choose for yourself; you should enjoy what is given to you aswell. Aries 21 March - 20 April This month’s prediction: It’s the time of year for achievement! A sudden boost of energy will help you to complete that task at long last. Don’t get too carried away though! Taurus 21 April - 21 May This month’s prediction: It doesn’t have to be new year to have a fresh start. Think about what you really want, not need, and go for it! Don’t forget your friends along the way though! Gemini 22 May - 21 June This month’s prediction: You’re afraid of something in the past, whether it’s just a memory or threatens to return. Don’t be! Take this opportunity to deal with it once and for all. You’re older and wiser now! Cancer 22 June -22 July This month’s prediction: Despite your current happiness there is a possibility of being caught up in someone elses worries. Be a friend and help them; but don’t let it take over your life! Leo 23 July -23 August This month’s prediction: It’s the time of year for you to be honest, not just with others; yourself. What do you think of the current situation and who you’ve become? If you’re happy then keep it up! If not, then have the confidence in yourself to change some things. Virgo 24 August - 22 September This month’s prediction: Wednesday is a lucky day for you! Use it to your advantage in keeping something dear to you from leaving. Some things can’t be stopped; but you can still try! Good luck! Libra 23 September - 23 October This month’s prediction: You should always think before you say something; this is especially important in the next week. Pick your words carefully and think how the listener will respond beforehand. Scorpio 24 October - 25 November This month’s prediction: Material possession seems to be becoming your priority; don’t let it! Think about what you actually need and use the extra time and money on people dear to you. Sagittarius 23 November - 21December This month’s prediction: Things can get a bit messy sometimes! It’s best to just sit back and let everything calm down for a few days. When you see the opportunity; jump in and save the day! You can do it! |
[edit] Interviews
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[edit] Main Interview
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s_j_b
Interview by animoo_x This is animoo_x clocking in at 11:52am. Morning Steffi! We are up bright and early aren't we? ^^ Well it's bright and early for me.
How is one today? One is half really awake and excited for the onigiri and half wanting to go back to bed! It's pouring down with rain ^-^.
Ahh i should be saying interesting things! You are the editor of the Onigiri and many people know that that involves a great deal of work and time. What are some of the perks and disadvantages [if any] of being editor-in-chief? Perks? I get to control everything? Haha i like being able to organise things or I worry they won't work! ^-^ I don't tend to think of being the editor-in-chief until the day I have to put everything together. The rest of the time I just join everyone in the lounge ^-^. Disadvantages? I have to use 2 accounts and end up forwarding messages so many times that half the screen is made up of '>>>>>>>' ^-^. I also get PMs saying 'Dear Sir/Madam'. O_O umm i'm just Steffi! Many people have been complaining about the influx of noobs and spammers onto CR due to the summer holidays. Do you have any views on this? I predicted it would happen a while ago ^-^. I think there are definitely more members all of a sudden and an increase in duplicate /naruto threads. There are alot of good members joining too though! I think we will survive the summer holidays because of the members who help on the forums and explain things (nicely!) to 'noobs'. I've always wondered about this myself - you love helping people and that much is obvious but are there times when your patience runs thin with people who maybe don't appreciate your help? Everyone feels like that sometimes ^-^. I love the word 'thankyou' - people merely need to say that and i will be smiling for ages! Most people seem to appreciate my help so I don't get annoyed. When a couple in the past didn't care at all I just ignored it and waited until they needed help again. I think helping itself should make you happy; not the 'thankyou' reward. What is your favourite anime or drama to watch on CR right now? I lack shows right now! I started watching some opposite vampire thing yesterday but i might not complete it ^-^ (mainly as I can't remember what it was called! haha). My favourite show at the moment has to be Romeo x Juliet. Awwww ^-^. Do you love your twin? *silence*......no :P Oh...I just got pie'd. Gutted! Haha ok - onto the next serious question now ^^ Many people read The Onigiri's GB and have said that we seem so professional and organised. Thank you for your time dear Steffi! *hugs* I hope everyone enjoyed the interview and thank you for all the hard work you put into the Onigiri. Everyone appreciates it so much. ^^ |
[edit] Mini InterviewsQuestion by s_j_b Each issue we will do little mini interviews from submitted answers to a question. See the end of these two for you chance to be in Issue 4! ^-^ Issue 3 question: What is your perfect day? Vider eamiru07 [edit] Art
Submitted art, comics and instructions for an origami Snowflake Star CR is full of budding artists!
[edit] Submitted Artwork
[edit] Origami Snowflake StarInstructions by edsamac Would you like to learn how to make a cute snowflake star? The simple instructions are below!
Find the rest of the steps here: [1]. Enjoy! [edit] Puzzles
[edit] Puzzles: SolutionsSolutions by henz_lan. [edit] Spot the Differences
[edit] BrainteaserA3. The prisoner said; "I shall die slowly over a small fire."
[edit] CrosswordI am afraid that last week's offering was incredibly contrived and to be honest not terribly good. I hang my head in shame as I offer you the answers.
I’m afraid we don’t yet have the answers for puzzles by AmySophamish. We will add them in as soon as we get them! If anyone else managed to work them out; feel free to send the answers to The_Onigiri. Sorry again!
[edit] Puzzles: NewSpot the Difference, Riddles and Brainteasers
[edit] BrainteasersBy henz_lan 4.A mother gives birth to two girls, on the same day, at similar times, in the same year and yet they're not twins. How can this be true?
[edit] Spot the DifferenceBy henz_lan
[edit] RiddlesBy OneZub
[edit] Answers1 A: Yes. He is lying by saying ‘everything’ he says is a lie. [edit] Credits and EndBehind the scenes credits:
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