DEEP MMA Promotion: Who Let the Hogs Out?

Looks like the Japanese MMA promotion DEEP is having a light heavy weight tournament.  I currently don’t know anything about the participants, but I hope they are up and coming talent that can one day move on to fighting at that weight in larger events. There are not many great Japanese fighters at 205 in my opinion, but I wish there were.

The first stage should take place Feb 28th at DEEP 46 Impact in Korakuen Hall, Tokyo.

Now, all I have to do is figure out why a transvestite pig has become a symbol for higher weight class fighters…

P.S. – ……… YOU CAN’T BE SERIOUS STANDING NEXT TO A PIG THAT LOOKS LIKE THAT!

[via Kakutoh]

Edit: Here’s a great Nightmare of Battle post on the event

Shizuka Sugiyama: All About the Hair

That’s right. It’s time for a look at one of our favorite MMA fighters, Shizuka Sugiyama! Specifically, as noted by the title, we’re going to look at the progression of Sugi’s hair over the past year.

As we’ve posted before, we’ve been cheering for her through all her matches as one of the Jewels promotion’s top competitors. Recently recognized for her fighting spirit, she always does her best and shows loads of heart in her fights.

So, why focus in on her hair of all things? Well, to put it simply, it’s cute! Also, it was actually one of the first things that kicked off our fandom back when she had her signature hair bun atop her head.

Still one of our favorite pictures of Sugi ever, I dare you not to smile as Sugi rejoices after finishing a rear naked choke. Too too cool:

While she kept the the bun for a while, by her third professional fight at Jewels Third Ring, she’d opted for a new ‘do.

Oh, and if you still have any doubt that hair is important to Sugi, here are two facts: 1) Her main sponsor is a hair removal machine and 2) Her only loss came the one and only time she has worn corn rows.

After the jump, check out our fairly comprehensive picture gallery illustrating the many faces, and varied hairstyles, of our beloved Sugi! ^_^

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Star Trek Online: Pay Up Suckas!

So, I’ve been playing the Star Trek Online Open Beta for a few days, and it’s actually a lot more engaging than I initially anticipated. Anyway, I’ll get in to more of my impressions of the game after the beta ends January 26th.

For now, I just wanted to break down the “Limited Time Promotions” Cryptic has extended to those who are ready to sign up and commit some cashola to continue, or begin, their voyage when the game ships February 2nd.

Note: In order to qualify for the promotional subscriptions, you’re going to have to pre-order/pre-purchase the actual game first = $49.99 Regular Edition, $59.99 Digital Deluxe Edition, $79.99 Collector’s Edition.

Ok, now let’s weigh the options shall we:

Option 1: Lifetime – $239.99

The Math: Equates to paying for 16 months of the game at standard $14.99/month subscription

Perks:

• Play forever and ever and ever until you want to quit or the game dies, whichever happens first.
• Access to create a liberated Borg character
• 2 extra character slots

Option 2: 12-month Discounted Annual – $119.99/year

The Math: Equates to a savings of $59.89/year, compared to if you subscribed at the standard $14.99/month subscription (which adds up to $179.88/year)

Perks:

• Locked in discount annual price
• 2 extra character slots

Now, I appreciate the money saving options presented, but on the flip-side, you have to be willing and gung-ho to commit a large sum of monies upfront for an experience you may or may not follow through with for the extent you signed up for. Obviously, this is great for Cryptic, who gets your money whether you play or not.

I’m not necessarily trying to rain on the parade. If you know you love the game and you can afford it, by all means go for it! However, personally, though I am enjoying the beta, I’m not willing to lock in yet. If I choose to continue, looks like regular subscription for me.

The Why Behind Health Care Reform

Through the whole health care debate, I feel that people in in the halls of power and in the streets have lost sight of the ‘Why’ with health care.

Every reform minded person is always on the defensive, seeming to rationalize their decision to support the Democratic health care agenda from the attacks of people who have no ideas of their own.

By being on the defensive, the Democrats in Congress look like they are making excuses for every cost and program in their bills.

“It has death panels!”

“It’s going to tax your kids!”

“You will lose your health care!”

“It’s communism!”

The way people on the left have tried to answer these questions, they make it sound like they are trying to convince themselves it’s right, and they hear so many bad things about their views that they almost become apathetic to health care reform.

Here’s a quote from a Senate staffer that echos this:

The worst is that I can’t help but feel like the main emotion people in the caucus are feeling is relief at this turn of events. Now they have a ready excuse for not getting anything done. While I always thought we had the better ideas but the weaker messaging, it feels like somewhere along the line Members internalized a belief that we actually have weaker ideas. They’re afraid to actually implement them and face the judgement of the voters. That’s the scariest dynamic and what makes me think this will all come crashing down around us in November. (via TPM)

What those in favor of health care reform need to realize is that this is a once in a decade opportunity to make this country better.  It is important to stay aggressive and be on the offensive. It’s even more important to stay motivated and be able to bounce back from defeats like yesterday’s Massachusetts Senate election and persevere.

So what is the Why behind health care reform?

It’s simple really. This country spends more on health care than any other and gets worse results based on the percentage of people covered, overall quality, and quantity of life.

This fact directly attacks the status quo, which is what conservatism by definition wishes to preserve. Make them have to defend the status quo, and stay on the message that without changing the status quo the nation will be worse off.

Health care reform doesn’t cost money in the long run, it saves money, it saves jobs, and dammit, it may even save this country’s economic standing in the world over the next century.

On top of that, push forth the conviction that health care is a right just as much as education is a right. Neither one was written into the Constitution, but they are equally important for a person to reach their full potential in our society.

Those in favor of health care reform must also realize that 59 seats is still a majority. Don’t pretend the Senate is now split 50/50 and proceed to create a health care bill that lacks anything that the minority may find disagreeable. To do so wouldn’t be compromise between two groups, it would be defeat for those wanting to change the status quo.

Danny Glover is Also a Jerk

Out of fairness, (and thanks to poorkmart for pointing this out) I think we should also call out Danny Glover’s idiocy, which joins that of Pat Robertson regarding asinine explanations for the causation of the disaster in Haiti.

Here’s what he said in an interview on GRITtv: (video after the jump)

This is a great moment for another type of internationalism, you know. (And and I and) I hope we seize this particular moment because the threat of what happened to Haiti is a threat that could happen anywhere in the Caribbean, to these Island nations. You know there’s all this peril because of global warming, (because—) all this peril because of climate change, and all of this. (And we need to find, this this, when we when we back) When we do what we did at the climate summit, in Copenhagen, (this is the response—) this is what happens, you know what I’m saying. But we have to act now.

Not as malicious, nor clearly worded, as compared to Robertson’s comments, Glover’s statement is still self-serving and ignorant. Global warming, or the failure to prevent it, caused the earthquake huh? I guess it caused the buildings to be inadequately constructed and equipped to handle the force of an earthquake that would otherwise not have been so devastating too.

Be a supporter or naysayer of the global warming theory, clearly earthquakes happen as a natural part of geotectonic plate movement, and it is ridiculous to try and use the “threat of global warming” to explain or suggest we can avoid such disasters. More so, I think in general, it is ridiculous and callous for anyone out there to be politicizing or using this tragedy in anyway to bolster one’s own cause.

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Pat Robertson is a Jerk

A day after the horrendous 7.0 earthquake in Haiti, Pat Robertson had the gall to blame the victims themselves, the likely 100,000 dead Haitians, as well as their country and its history for their hardships.

Something happened a long time ago in Haiti … they were under the heel of the French, uh, you know, Napoleon the third and whatever … and they got together and swore a pact to the devil, they said, we will serve you, if you get us free from the Prince. True story.

I can’t believe Pat Robertson would say such a thing… Ok, I believe it. Still, it’s way over the line. This man is a jerk. I hate it when people bring up divine intervention, or the lack of it, when it comes to tragedies.

If a violent bus crash involves no fatalities, it’s the result of “the power of prayer” and “God watching over them.” However, if all the people on the bus die, it’s “God’s will.”

This is pretty illogical, but for the most part, it is just a coping mechanism for people dealing with death and hardship.

In this case, Pat Roberson’s comments go beyond any attempt to look for comfort and understanding for said tragedy, and instead craft a manufactured pseudo-history revolving around Haiti’s “pact with Satan.” How does he find cause and effect between an earthquake and the religion of Africans who fought in one of the only successful slave revolts in the history of the world??

Anyway, watch for yourself after the jump. Read more »

Gaming Retrospect: Mixed-Up Mother Goose

I really don’t remember much about my ‘firsts’ growing up. I don’t remember my first steps, words, or plane trip. I know my first friend was Stephen, whom I have known since I was two. I think my second friend was named Iosh, or Yoshi, or something. Maybe it was Spanish, and I just made it up from what I thought I heard his name was, but I don’t know him anymore obviously. Anyway, those things are not important… ok, friends are more important, but what is important is this: what was my first gaming experience?

Well, I can tell you with 75% accuracy that my very first PC game was Sierra’s 1987 release Mixed-Up Mother Goose. Even today, I remember that old man and his crooked sixpence. I also remember flying on a goose. I must have played that game many times to remember that much considering how very young I was. Oh, and my avatar had my complexion and a blue shirt… I think.

The game was basically you walking around trying to find important parts of the particular nursery rhymes: find Jack’s candle, Mary’s lamb etc. You were supposed to pick a character that looked like you and put in your own name, so I wonder if it can really be called a role playing game despite the ‘quests’ I was on. Hopefully I can get a version for my kids when I have them.

Winter 2010 Anime Season Preview

The new year is upon us and so is the new season of anime! This will be Pancake Landing’s first foray in to the preview lineup format, and with it, we intend to provide initial expectations and thoughts about the shows you may or may not intend to watch this season.

Lineup after the jump! Read more »

Encore for K-ON!: 2nd Season Greenlit

Looks like it’s time for another round of tea and cake as season number two of the ever popular K-ON! has been officially announced. The first nod was made at the close of Wednesday’s “Let’s Go!” live concert in Yokohama, and later the news was confirmed on the show’s official site, which is also advertising the Blu-ray release of Vol. 7 on January 20th.

Can’t say I’m too surprised given the massive following and merchandising attached to the show, but now it’s time to ponder what the 2nd season will bring. More moe? Clearly. More band members? Perhaps. More music? I’d hope so. More pantsu? . . .

[via ANN]