Ode to Soy Sauce

Note the difference between American version:

And Japanese version:

Spoiler Alert:

Why is the Japanese version so severe?  Just because he couldn't decide which sauce, dammit???  That seems harsh to me.  You decide dear reader, you decide.

Too Soon?

MC Lars and YTCracker "9:11 am (Rudy Giuliani)

Oh, MC Lars, what would I do without you?  Meanwhile...

There is some interesting discussion going on over at Boing Boing about this sculpture made by one of the bloggers, Jenny Ryan: 

I've recently been thinking about how serious everyone (especially artists) takes themselves and everything around them so I was happy to see this controversial sculpture—read any of the posts and you will see both irrational outrage and irrational support. 

Most of the outrage seems to imply that the artist is disrespecting people who lost loved ones.  This to me, implies a mentality of ignorance.  Who is to say whether the creator of the piece experienced 9/11 personally if not the artist herself? The artist should not have to justify her legitimacy to the masses.

Think about all the repercussions to artists. Here is a list of songs banned by Clear Channel after the event, in case you've forgotten.  Rage Against the Machine was banned completely. And they still don't allow Biggie to say "Blow up like the World Trade" in Juicy, which, by the way was released in 1994 (I still can't get over it!).

In other 9/11 related news, I'm glad they have stopped playing "God Bless America" at most baseball games since it's a crappy song. No disrespect to Irving Berlin but couldn't we have picked something a little more...great to honor the victims?

What's worse is when people like Giuliani use the tragedy as a platform to run for president.  Or any of these "commemorative" items sold at Ground Zero to tourists.  Especially this scrunchie, found by another Boing Boing reader, sold at the Patriotic Superstore (no, joke):

Don't worry, the description reads, "tastefully printed".  So order with abandon.

Endangered Fish or Aborted Fetus? You decide.

My coworker who is unwaivering in the face of danger and who mentioned being held up at gun-point as a side-note in a conversation about purses adding, "he took my favorite clutch!" screamed like a toddler and hid her face in her hands at the site of this little swimmy guy.

According to Treehugger.com this is a "Mexican Walking fish" whose habitat is being compromised because of water pollution and the wild, hungry vengeance of non-native species. Yet some, like my coworker, are skeptical. Some say it is a smiling fetus that no longer calls the womb home. I would therefore like provide a forum and safe space for people to discuss their thoughts and feelings on the true nature of this creature.

Also, endangered species is an emotional subject for a lot of us and I do ask for respect while discussing. The panda, for instance is endangered. (but the camel is here to stay, sucka!)