Anime Washington 2024 recap

     I had such fun at my first convention (hopefully, it won't be the last, but politics right now are scaring me to death) that I want to immortalize my memories on the internet beyond my social media posts on Facebook, Twitter and BlueSky.

    As soon as I got in, I made a beeline for the 5th floor, knowing that's where the meet and greets were.  I had an almost need-like feeling to meet Tara Platt, she has helped and encouraged me a lot over Twitter and Edelgard helped me deal with my feelings of beating on a brick wall, desiring change in a rigid society, as well as surviving fear and sadness by letting it out.  I told her Edelgard was invaluable during 2020 and that I like Kali Belladonna and Sailor Moon's Mom and we got a picture with my Edelgard and Byleth plushies and her holding my Mitsuru figurine, which I told her I got on eBay.  I saw how massive her husband, Yuri Lowenthal's, line was, and decided to come back when it thinned out.  It never did, but since they were by the water fountains, I passed by multiple times refilling a water bottle.

 

    I then met Brittney Karbowski, the voice of Wendy Marvell in Fairy Tail, Camie in My Hero Academia and Citrinne in Fire Emblem Engage.  She was exuberant and gave me and another person and herself mints, and was overjoyed to see my Wendy plush and take a picture with it.  I had pretty much run out of money and later made the mistake of buying 2 Persona CDs from a vendor, which put me in the red temporarily until I got paid next, which was especially irritating because in hindsight I just wanted one, but couldn't have known that because the track listing was inside the CD package, so I thought I was buying heavy metal interpretations of Persona 3 and 4, instead of just 5 with one sung by men and one sung by women.  I told Brittney I liked Wendy, Camie, Citrinne and one of the artists who made her prints, later remembering after the con that I had commissioned them for a Wendy and Erza artwork.

And this is an artwork I mentioned to Brittney at the convention.

    I then went over and saw the lines for Barbara Dunkelman and Arryn Zech of RWBY weren't so long, so I went to Barbara and complemented Yang, Blake, Bumbleby and also mentioned I liked the pictures of her up to her neck in packing peanuts, they make me think of the Homsar quote "IIIIIiiiIIII Bathe Myself in the Shipping Supplies!"

    I then went to Arryn Zech and complemented Blake and Yang and Bumbleby again, also mentioning I just met Tara, who plays her character's mom and that I love Kali and Blake.  I also asked if she was okay (she had had some hard times, which is why she's not on social media anymore) and she said she was.

    Erika Harlacher wasn't there (and by the time she was, she had built up a line similar to Yuri's), so I went to see Dawn M. Bennett, who plays Frosch in Fairy Tail, Elm in RWBY, Shez in Fire Emblem Warriors; Three Hopes, Nabbit in Super Mario Bros. Wonder and dubbed Hiroko Asami in Shin Ultraman.  We chatted about Shin Ultraman, her character enlarging being a reference to Episode 33, Chris Hackney also being in the dub and him and Matthew Mercer being in Legend of Zelda; Tears of the Kingdom.

    After that, I saw mostly long lines for the people I wanted to talk to, so I browsed the vendors and looked at cosplays.  There was a woman dressed as Makoto Niijima from Persona 5, a few Princess Peaches, a lady dressed as Aqua from Konosuba, a man dressed as Mojo Jojo from The Powerpuff Girls, a Pikachu-Among Us crossover cosplay, many people dressed as Shinobu from Demon Slayer (hoping to meet Erika Harlacher, I presume), a pair of brothers dressed as Fire Mario and Fire Luigi, a man in a Bowser costume and 3 women with Sailor Moon, Sailor Mercury and Sailor Venus wigs, though the Sailor Moon one's clothes suggested she was doubling up and also Android 18, and Mercury could've been doubling up as Bulma and Venus doubling up as ChiChi, I don't know Bulma and ChiChi's outfits so well.  There was also a woman in a red wig and a black bunny suit who could've been Erza Scarlet, but if so, they forgot the guild mark on her arm and cosplayers tend to be more detail-oriented than that.

    There was a bunch of merchandise, mostly Funko Pops, but there was a small music store as mentioned above briefly.  They also had the soundtrack to the original "Mother" game on CD, or "Earthbound Beginnings," as it's also known.  Some vendor was selling expensive giant monster action figures, with Gamera 2023, a Godzilla, Kiryu and two Megazords from Power Rangers.  The nerd in me got a little annoyed that the Power Rangers figures were labeled "Astro Megazord" and "Gouryujin," when I like Megaranger better than Power Rangers in Space and Power Rangers Season 1 better that Zyuranger (though "Gouryujin" is a better name than "Dragonzord in Battle Mode").

    I also checked out the 3rd Floor gaming center, but didn't play until 5:00 pm, when I was waiting for my uncle to pick me up.  I went to the end of the "Attack on Titan" panel to catch the Naruto panel.  There, I saw a lot of the voice actors behind the show, and while I've only been exposed through the fighting games, it was fun to see Tara Platt talk about her craft with her husband, Yuri Lowenthal, as well as Kate Higgins and Neil Kaplan.  Tara and Yuri revealed that the show had gotten their son interested in learning "Drunken Fist" style Wushu Kung Fu, Yuri revealing that the overarching story of Naruto is great, he does wish Sasuke let go of his vengeance quest earlier and Tara also revealed she grew up without a TV or video games, yet she is the one who decided Yuri and her should do voice acting to pay the bills (Yuri, who grew up the opposite, is embarrassed he didn't think of it), as well as a tip for voice directors, let actors know who the character is supposed to be before the session, or if they seem out of character during the session, she once did a session and at the end, the director said "This doesn't work, let's do the whole thing over differently."  Neil Kaplan also talked a bit about how he was Optimus Prime in Transformers; Robots in Disguise (2001 Anime) and wishes he was "Full-Budget Peter Cullen" instead of "Budget Peter Cullen."  He also mentioned he was called Eeyore growing up and since he and Peter Cullen have voiced both, he sees Eeyore as "Depressed Optimus Prime." "All right, Megatron, you can take over the world."

    Afterwards, I went back to the 5th floor and got to meet Kate Higgins, where I complimented her performance as Purah in the latest Legend of Zelda games.  After this, I went back to the third floor and wrapped up the day playing video games; a WWE game, Smash Bros. Ultimate, Gunstar Heroes and Turtles in Time.  I saw they had a new Rock Band game and I wanted to sing, but I was too shy, plus I wasn't sure the microphone was working, there wasn't a player attached to it or scrolling lyrics and I only heard one song being sung.  Oh, well, I have Rock Band 3 and Beatles; Rock Band at home.  Overall, an amazing event and I hope to have more like it in the future.

Attempt to be positive and get out more

 

              I’m tired, but not sleepy, so I’m going to write about positive things until I am tired enough to try to go to bed.  First off is this thing I wrote earlier today as a rehearsal for seeing Tara Platt at Anime Washington to get my thoughts in order.

 

              Hi, Tara, we’ve spoken quite a bit on Twitter and now I get to meet you and not have a character limit.  Edelgard was just what I needed just when I needed it, and I really love her and Mitsuru’s gentle side and your roles as Kali Belladonna and Sailor Moon’s Mom.  I would like to get a selfie with you, and if it’s all right, can you hold this Edelgard plush while I hold this Byleth plush?  Their relationship made me feel like I was doing something important for more people than just myself.  Also, can you say “Whatever happens, I hope you know you’re very special to me?”  That’s probably my favorite line you said, it made me feel accomplished.  I’m going to record it for personal use for when I’m feeling bad, but I’m only putting it on Facebook, I don’t trust Twitter or YouTube and I told my Facebook friends they don’t have my permission for audio sampling.  Thanks, this has been a dream come true.  I am glad we could talk; I’ll see you at the panel/online.

 

              Next, one for Brittney Karbowski, also at the convention.

 

              Hi, Brittney.  I really like Wendy, Camie and Citrinne, I play the best with Camie in My Hero One’s Justice 2, I loved Citrinne’s conversations with Yunaka, Veyle and Alear, and Wendy really makes me happy, I love a lot about her, her sisterly relationship with Erza, how she takes the strange world of Fairy Tail in stride and how she’s so strong for 12.  Could I please have a selfie with you with this Wendy plush I brought for the Convention?  It would mean a lot to mean.  Thanks so much, I’m really glad you liked the Wendy fanart I shared on Twitter, and I’ll keep using Camie as my main character in My Hero One’s Justice 2.

 

              I am in the factory of Super Mario RPG, there is only a little bit left to the game.  Almost 25 years ago, my brother claimed he could beat the game 5 times before I beat it once.  He did so, but I am finally about to beat it for the first time, meaning the statement is now complete and he won’t beat it 6 or more times before I beat it once.  Also, I met Samus, which I’m pretty sure he never did in those 5 playthroughs.  I didn’t complete Yo’ster Isle or Toadofsky’s Melody, but I couldn’t get the rhythm right and I didn’t want to look up the notes for the other, but it was BEAT the game, not get everything in the game or play the SNES version.  It has been an absolute nostalgic blast to play, and it feels amazing that sometime today, I will end my first full playthrough, closing a chapter that’s been open for about 25 years.  My first copy my cousin took back, I tried an emulator and got stuck on a timing part, and tried the Virtual Console and got spooked by the timing part and stopped in Moleville.  They really helped things like perfect timing be less of an issue in the remake, I always felt clumsy not getting them in the original, especially since my brother had no problem.  That, honestly, is the thing that hurts me a lot in gaming, the thought “he could do it no problem, why can’t I?  Am I just born stupid with no sense of rhythm?”

 

              But looking back, though I played on more casual modes, I found it works for me, makes the game fun, and makes me kind of sad to end them, because the story is over and the friends we made along the way will be gone.  That’s why I buy the merchandise and tend to play fighting games, so the RPG characters like Edelgard, Annette, Byleth, Erza, Wendy, Peach and Bowser are always there, and some characters stay forever young sparring each other.  My ideal game would have a haven for friends to interact with and recurring missions that would be done every so often, but, ideally that’s real life, though real life is depression with its huge number of giant problems people like me, even in army-size, can’t solve.

 

              I’m starting to get favorites for music for this year, but I want to wait until February or March at least before I start thinking about any kind of playlist.  What I can say, though, is Artimus Pyle’s tribute to his old band, Lynyrd Skynyrd, is shaping up well, Sammy Hagar did “Simple Man,” Dolly Parton’s version of “Free Bird” will be re-released and Warren Haynes is going to do “Saturday Night Special” and Billy Ray Cyrus will do “Call Me The Breeze,” the Skynyrd version can be heard in a memorable part of “Wild Hogs.”  Judas Priest’s next album sounds good, “Panic Attack” is a criticism of social media and those who rule it to silence disagreement, while “Crown of Horns” is an amazing song about both Jesus and Heavy Metal and the tough, yet exhilarating journey with both.  It comes across as a sequel to “Firepower”’s “Guardians/Rising from Ruins.”  Ariana Grande also has a good album coming out that same day, March 8^th, and just released her first single, “yes, and?” a good song about self-confidence, though its use of swears mean it’ll be something I’ll probably enjoy alone.

 

              I’m trying to have more conversations on social media, I commented on a picture posted by a friend from Church, wondering if her cat “Beezus” had a “Ramona,” and she said “She would’ve but the next rescue cat we got was male and didn’t feel like a Ramon.”  Tara Platt played Naruto Monopoly with her son and I showed her the Calvin and Hobbes strip where Calvin tries to rob the bank, ultimately leading Hobbes to put all the Houses and Hotels on Baltic, where Calvin is, declaring he now owes $250,000.  She liked that.  I am finding, though, social media buffets you with a ton of content that can bog down your mind and keep you from thinking clearly.  Examples in my feeds are hearing about politics, hearing about sex-rule cults in certain denominations of Christianity, videos of bands you don’t care about, criticisms/riffs on films you already saw criticized/riffed or films that are out of season, criticisms of things you like that seem downright hostile and fan theories/speculations/possible leaked information from upcoming sci-fi movies.  I’m just going to Twitter to see how the Seattle Kraken and Joel Hoekstra are doing, see Edelgard-Byleth fanart, keep up with author Sarah McKnight and voice actors Tara Platt, Abby Trott and Laura Post and their goings-on.  YouTube, I try to find some rare classic rock information or footage I’m interested in, such as concerts by Lynyrd Skynyrd, Rush and Fleetwood Mac, as well as the tribute band I’m seeing in March, Petty or Not, and some Godzilla fan videos, mostly things like “what if Shin and Legendary Godzilla fought?” “What if Minus One Godzilla met Legendary Godzilla?” and “Take a look at this new footage of Godzilla’s evolved form in Godzilla x Kong!”  Mind you, such stuff tends to lead to dumb memes elsewhere, but these people either present it as though it were one of the movies or like an episode of Death Battle without the cool CGI fight at the end, instead with simpler, simulated graphics.  Clips from the movies/media themselves are also enjoyed.

 

              Another thing I like finding on YouTube are baseball and music highlights from games and concerts I went to.  I’ve posted some from last year’s Mariners games against the Blue Jays and Padres from YouTube, as well as numerous concert videos and am thinking about doing deep dives in baseball and recording some of my own concert memories as opportunities present themselves.  I honestly want to take more videos of myself for YouTube, even though I’m not fond of it forcing you to turn off your adblocker (especially knowing the ads are only going to get worse and more vicious this year).  However, the Rock Band videos will likely only go to Facebook because I worry YouTube will flag them for the rock/pop song in the background.  I want to get out and experience more of what makes me happy, it’s just hard when depression and anxiety create this sense of a looming cloud of dread and pain, and reality doesn’t offer much comfort or ways out.

Some playlists

 I made an iTunes version of my favorites of 2023 and a playlist for MLK Day and Black History Month this year and felt like sharing.

2023 iTunes edition:

1.)    Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)-Daughtry feat. Lzzy Hale
2.)    Peace Like A River-Dolly Parton and Dionne Warwick
3.)    Who We Love-Sam Smith and Ed Sheeran
4.)    This is Why-Paramore
5.)    The News-Paramore
6.)    FLOWERS-Miley Cyrus
7.)    Thousand Miles-Miley Cyrus feat. Brandi Carlile
8.)    Violet Chemistry-Miley Cyrus
9.)    Wonder Woman-Miley Cyrus
10.)    Used to Be Young-Miley Cyrus
11.)    Out of That Truck-Carrie Underwood
12.)    Give Her That-Carrie Underwood
13.)    She Don’t Know (Live)-Carrie Underwood
14.)    I Finally Do-Erika Harlacher
15.)    Divine One-Shingeki—BabyMetal
16.)    METALI!-BabyMetal feat. Tom Morello
17.)    All Star Jam-Geoff Tate, Steve Vai, Joe Satriani
18.)    Neon Knights-Paul Gilbert
19.)    Kill the King-Paul Gilbert
20.)    Man on the Silver Mountain-Paul Gilbert
21.)    Lady Evil-Paul Gilbert
22.)    Die For You (Remix)-The Weeknd and Ariana Grande
23.)    Whipping Post-Jenn Ford
24.)    Black Hole Sun-Jenn Ford
25.)    Heart Wants What It Wants-Bebe Rexha
26.)    Call On Me-Bebe Rexha
27.)    I’m Not High, I’m in Love-Bebe Rexha
28.)    I Am-Bebe Rexha
29.)    Seasons-Bebe Rexha, Dolly Parton
30.)    Peaches-Jack Black
31.)    You Are The Music (Live 5/16/1992)-Trapeze
32.)    Way Back To The Bone (Live 5/16/1992)-Trapeze
33.)    Coast to Coast (Live 5/16/1992)-Trapeze
34.)    Midnight Flyer (Live 5/16/1992)-Trapeze
35.)    Need Each Other-Revolution Saints
36.)    Set Yourself Free-Revolution Saints
37.)    Torn Into Lies-Joel Hoekstra’s 13
38.)    Far Too Deep-Joe Hoekstra’s 13
39.)    Ain’t Enough Rocks-Brandy Clark feat. Derek Trucks
40.)    Dear Insecurity-Brandy Clark and Brandi Carlile
41.)    Northwest-Brandy Clark
42.)    Closer to Fine-Brandi and Catherine Carlile
43.)    Sorry, Not Sorry-Demi Lovato and Slash
44.)    Rescued-Foo Fighters
45.)    Rest-Foo Fighters
46.)    Out of Pocket-Black Stone Cherry
47.)    Peaches-Cristina Vee
48.)    This is the Song-Duff McKagan
49.)    Hope-Duff McKagan, Slash
50.)    Meant to Live (Our Version)-Switchfoot
51.)    Worthy (Bmblb part II)-Casey Lee Williams, Ariyel
52.)    Adrift (Blue Version)-Laura Bailey, Ashley Johnson
53.)    Challenging A Queen (Blue Version)-Laura Bailey, Mary Elizabeth McGlynn
54.)    It’s Time (Green Version)-Laura Bailey, Janina Gavankar, Mary Elizabeth McGlynn, Ashley Johnson
55.)    If Only-Laura Bailey and Janina Gavankar
56.)    If Only (Reprise)-Janina Gavankar
57.)    Adrift (Reprise)-Laura Bailey, Ashley Johnson
58.)    Royalty-Idina Menzel
59.)    Perhaps-Guns N Roses
60.)    Simple Man-Firefall
61.)    Fire (Live at the Hollywood Bowl)-Jimi Hendrix
62.)    The First Noel-HAUSER
63.)    O Holy Night-HAUSER
64.)    Silent Night-HAUSER
65.)    Amazing Grace-HAUSER
66.)    Total Eclipse of the Heart-Doro and Rob Halford
67.)    Bring Me To Life (2002 Demo)-Evanescence
68.)    Now and Then-The Beatles
69.)    Godzilla -1.0 Godzilla Suite I-Naoki Sato
70.)    Godzilla -1.0 Godzilla Suite II-Naoki Sato
71.)    Nothing Compares 2 U (Live)-P!nk and Brandi Carlile
72.)    Christmas isn’t Christmas-Bon Jovi
73.)    Magic Man-Dolly Parton, Ann Wilson, Howard Leese
74.)    What Has Rock and Roll Ever Done For You?-Dolly Parton, Stevie Nicks, Waddy Watchel
75.)    Baby, I Love Your Way-Dolly Parton, Peter Frampton
76.)    Wrecking Ball-Dolly Parton, Miley Cyrus
77.)    I Can’t Get No Satisfaction-Dolly Parton, Brandi Carlile, P!nk
78.)    Heart of Glass-Dolly Parton, Debbie Harry
79.)    Bygones-Dolly Parton, Rob Halford, John 5, Nikki Sixx
80.)    Let it Be-Dolly Parton, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Peter Frampton, Mick Fleetwood
81.)    Free Bird-Dolly Parton, Ronnie Van Zant, Gary Rossington, Artimus Pyle


MLK Day/African-American Month 2024:
1.)    Foxy Lady-Jimi Hendrix
2.)    You Shook Me-Willie Dixon
3.)    Sweet Little Angel (Live)-B.B. King
4.)    Peace Like A River-Dionne Warwick, Dolly Parton
5.)    Texas Flood (Live)-Gary Clark Jr.
6.)    Night In-Brittney Spencer
7.)    I’m Every Woman-Chaka Khan and Idina Menzel
8.)    A Hard Day’s Night-Dionne Warwick
9.)    Salvation Mountain-Lauren Daigle, Gary Clark Jr.
10.)    Princess Peach-Ruth B.
11.)    I Don’t Do Drugs-Doja Cat, Ariana Grande
12.)    Purple Rain-Prince
13.)    Thriller-Michael Jackson
14.)    Purple Haze-Jimi Hendrix
15.)    Jumpin’ Jack Flash-Aretha Franklin
16.)    Amazing Grace (Live)-Aretha Franklin
17.)    I Say A Little Prayer-Aretha Franklin
18.)    Superstition-Stevie Wonder
19.)    I Say A Little Prayer-Dionne Warwick
20.)    Let it Be-Aretha Franklin
21.)    Day Tripper-Otis Redding
22.)    Paper Flowers-Alicia Keys, Brandi Carlile
23.)    Bouncin’-Kiana Lede, Offset
24.)    Through the Storm-Aretha Franklin, Elton John
25.)    A Hard Day’s Night-Billy Preston
26.)    Daydreamin’-Aretha Franklin
27.)    The Long and Winding Road-Aretha Franklin
28.)    Respect-Aretha Franklin
29.)    Little Miss Strange-Jimi Hendrix
30.)    Mind Your Business-Roadcase Royale
31.)    Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (Live, Hollywood Bowl 1967)-Jimi Hendrix
32.)    Fire (Live, Hollywood Bowl 1967)-Jimi Hendrix
33.)    May This Be Love-Jimi Hendrix
34.)    Pearl Cadillac (Live)-Gary Clark Jr.
35.)    Foxy Lady (Live, Maui, 1970)-Jimi Hendrix
36.)    Voodoo Child (Slight Return) (Live, Maui, 1970)-Jimi Hendrix
37.)    Purple Haze (Live, Maui, 1970)-Jimi Hendrix
38.)    Come Together-Gary Clark Jr.
39.)    Hey Baby (New Rising Sun)-Jimi Hendrix
40.)    Shake (Live 2016)-Gary Clark Jr., Leon Bridges, Jeff Dazey
41.)    I Got My Eyes On You (Locked And Loaded)-Gary Clark Jr.
42.)    Get Back-The Beatles, Billy Preston
43.)    No One (Live)-Alicia Keys
44.)    Steep Climb-Eric Gales, Zakk Wylde
45.)    Faith-Stevie Wonder, Ariana Grande
46.)    Edge-Liv Warfield
47.)    Foxy Lady (Live, L.A. Forum 1969)-Jimi Hendrix
48.)    Voodoo Child (Slight Return) (Live, L.A. Forum 1969)-Jimi Hendrix
49.)    Sunshine of Your Love (Live, L.A. Forum 1969)-Jimi Hendrix
50.)    Voodoo Child (Slight Return) (Reprise) (Live, L.A. Forum 1969)-Jimi Hendrix

Former Eagles Member challenges the Definition of "American"

               Voice actress Ratana, who I know as Leonie in Fire Emblem; Three Houses and related media, touched on a subject that I feel is relevant on Martin Luther King Jr. Day Weekend.  She is of Pilipino descent, yet born and raised in the Midwest and a graduate of Michigan State, yet she is not considered “All-American” because of how she looks.  I specialize in music and making playlists and buying songs for certain times of year.  During Memorial Day, the 4^th of July, September 11^th and Veteran’s Day, I tend to play songs by artists that I consider “All-American.”  Until 5 years ago, when Don Felder released his song and album “American Rock and Roll” and the “America Salutes Guitar Players” albums started coming out, it was dominated by Billy Ray Cyrus, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Sammy Hagar and Miley Cyrus.

 

              While each have contributed to patriotism and the shape of American music like “Some Gave All,” “Free Bird,” “I Can’t Drive 55” and “Party in the U.S.A.,” the imagery is cultivated that not only is “American Music” made by white people, they must either be conservative or non-critical of the Bushes and Reagans in politics.  When the 45^th President was elected, there seemed to be a continuing demand that “American music” lack any criticism, though he took simple prejudiced ignorance from lack of experience on the formers’ parts and weaponized it into brutal punishment, looking to set up mass incarcerations, the removal of the 1^st Amendment for non-Republicans and a culling unlike any since the westward expansion that wiped 1 billion Native Americans out of existence.  In fact, some reported he openly bragged of this intent to certain campaign dinners.

 

              Don Felder’s song suggested a broader America, with lyrics like “Oh, Mr. Hendrix, how high he can fly,” “Oh, how Santana can play,” “Welcome to the Jungle with Guns, Slash and Rose,” and “The Grunge Cantrell, Cornell and Vedder.”  All these artists, Jimi Hendrix, Santana, Guns N Roses, Alice in Chains, Soundgarden/Audioslave/Temple of the Dog and Pearl Jam (and by association, Nirvana) were born and raised in America, we just don’t consider them “American” because they protested the established government and asked for peace, change and equality.  Honestly, if I were to present my original list, the Cyrus family would take immense flak because Miley is a pansexual and a feminist who has rocked out with Joan Jett and the Foo Fighters and they’d criticize Billy Ray for not forcing her into being their ideal Church girl, hoping she’d be a mirror of an ideal like Minnie Pearl or something.

 

              The point is, the definition of “American” needs to change, it needs to be more inclusive.  It isn’t going to happen overnight, nor is it going to be easy or perfect, but much like how I’m sick of the definition of “Christian” being Kirk Cameron and Duck Dynasty, I’m sick of the definition of American being Johnny Van Zant, Ron DeSantis and Donald Trump.  Those five create a religious/patriotic cult that demands perfectionism, scaring people into trying to be ideals they often cannot reach and making them think God will smite them or punish them with misfortune, making them afraid to live.  I spent ten years among such people who made me scared to live, go out and express myself, then 45 got elected and only now can I finally try to pry that octopus-like hold off my brain.  I have to, because they’re talking radically violent language and I can’t afford to be scared anymore.

Didn't mean to write another so soon

     Words of anger keep swirling around my head and I'm trying to keep my blood pressure down.  I have another appointment tomorrow and I'm nervous, if it's not reasonable, I'm worried I can't go to AnimeWashington due to the walking I'd need to do all over the convention center, and I really want selfies with Tara Platt and Brittney Karbowski.  As I mentioned last time, I've already prepared a little "selfie plushie helper pack" for the two.

In addition to that, they each have some great lines of dialogue I think of in down times, Tara as Edelgard saying "Heh, listen to me, I made up my mind long ago.  Yet here I am, seeking your approval.  I believe in you professor, and you believed in me." and "But whatever happens, I hope you know you're very special to me." as well as "Hmm, it must be that smile of yours that captures your audience's heartstrings." as Mitsuru and something along the lines of "I'd like to hear more about Team RWBY." as Kali Belladonna to Blake.  Brittney has "THAT ESCALATED QUICKLY!" as Wendy Marvell (which is a rare time I've heard an Anime dub reference an internet meme), "Victory is a great joy, for real!" as Camie and "I've been a vicious fool." as Citrinne to Yunaka, who she thought was going to assassinate nobles when she was seeking fundraising.

    But now, voice acting is being slammed with the terror of AI, aka Plagiarism Software, where they can take recordings of someone's voice and manipulate them to make the character say or sing whatever they want.  DeviantArt and YouTube are getting disgustingly bloated with these because the software is being made available for free if you know where to look, causing me to ask the website "not recommend channels" more and more often, while DeviantArt has become a tumor of AI and shitposts based around self-worship, idolatry, sex and punishing those who they deem inferior.  I am amazed decent people still use the worthless flaming crapheap.  To make matters worse, it creates the sense that we are living in the last days of the Roman Republic, the masses on DeviantArt and Twitter cry out "Bread and Circuses," or in this case, "Feasts, Super Bowls and mindless action schlock blockbusters!"  Meanwhile, the second largest political party prepares a culling of everyone who disagrees with them, quoting Hitler and bringing up the subject of concentration camps for the LGBTQ+ community and Democrats, and these masses simply say "America could use a good culling!  Johnny Depp's not going to be affected, neither am I!  Gimme Godzilla x Kong Spoilers!"  I honestly believe the 2024 election will be our last and 10 days from now next year, I will be on a bus, stripped naked, to the permafrost regions of Mt. Baker, where I will endure years of pain designed to convert me into thinking Donald Trump and Kirk Cameron are gods.

First week of 2024

     I am frustrated, discouraged, irritated and at a total loss regarding my country.  I am disgusted this extremist cult, confused for devout behavior, has overtaken the Republican Party and most public discourse about Christianity and Jesus.  I no longer have the luxury of pretending this is just some small group of radicals in the former Confederacy, but instead, this is the identity the Republican Party wishes for America to see them as and the world to see America as; unrelenting, vicious, psychotic, hypocritical murderers who commit genocide.  I've warned them online for almost a decade now, and the impression I get is they simply say "So What?  America could use a good culling.  We don't need the entertainment industry, or Jews, or Muslims, or libtard woke SJW 'Christians,' or Buddhists or atheists or f*gs or g**ks."  We're going to see that attitude plastered all over the United States this year, people cheering on the deaths of millions, hoping for a new Holocaust that will exterminate all but their elite circle and torture those who they think they can convert.  And if they win, they will make that law as soon as day 1.  This could very well be our last free year in this country, after which, we're in places that make Auschwitz look like a 5-star resort.  And there's no way to convince those who need convincing that this is wrong.

 

    I'm trying hard as I can to block it out by focusing on Anime Washington, but that just creates a sense of perfectionism around the event.  I've put away some money for selfies and other hopeful occurrences depending on time on Saturday the 27th.  My top 2 priorities are to get selfies with Tara Platt and Brittney Karbowski, Platt has voiced 7 of my favorite characters; Edelgard, Mitsuru, Elizabeth, Kali Belladonna, Temari, Ikuko Tsukino and Rosie, my favorite being Edelgard since she said "But whatever happens, I hope you know you're very special to me" to the player just before the final battle and is one of the first openly LGBTQ+ Nintendo Characters.  Brittney voiced three of my favorite characters; Wendy Marvell, Camie and Citrinne, and has at least one great line each, Wendy shouting "That escalated quickly!" with Carla when Juvia fantasizes her gift to Gray will lead to instant marriage (it's also a Ron Burgandy reference), Camie saying "Victory is a great joy, for real!" on winning matches in My Hero One's Justice 2 and "I've Been A Vicious Fool." by Citrinne when she realizes she went too far pursuing Yunaka without knowing the truth and decides to make it up to her.  Others I want to talk to/take pictures with if I have the money are Arryn Zech, Barbara Dunkelman, Yuri Lowenthal and Kate Higgins; namely that Blake and Yang's relationship meant a lot to me and I bought figurines from the Rooster Teeth store, every time I see pictures of Barbara in a cardboard box of packing peanuts I think of Homsar saying "AAAAAH-I bathe myself in the shipping supplies!," I love Yuri's portrayal of Yosuke, Marth and Spider-Man and I love how Kate is both Sakura and Purah, hopefully getting a "Click, snap!" posed picture.  All this is just guesswork right now and I would be satisfied with the first 2, but I am also afraid I can't talk about it and get the picture in an "elevator conversation" timeframe, which leads me back to politics or at least inaction.  I was also afraid my fragility would take over and security would be called on me, but that was just low medical levels talking.  I'm looking forward to it, I just wish there was less anxiety about it and that I had the luxury of not thinking this will be my only chance.