About a month ago, conditions for my family were finally starting to look really good. We bought a house. We bought a Lexus. We bought an HDTV and a new computer. We also finally got a broadband connection and DirecTV to replace our cruddy 56k connection and horrible cable. In terms of material wealth, our family had never been better. My parents, who had arrived here in the U.S originally as poor Chinese immigrants were finally realizing the American dream after all their hard work. Then four days ago, there was a huge blow. My mother recieved a notice that she was to be laid off from her corporation in two weeks. Though the economy is improving, some companies still needed money, and my mom was fired as a result. My dad was still working though, so there was hope. My mom could find another job while my dad would barely support us. Then, today, coincidentally, my dad recieved a notice that he was to be laid off within a month from his corporation. We were stunned. My dad worked for a completely different company, but chances had it that he was fired. With two unemployed parents, this was devastating. My family currently has no idea what to do. With all those new things we bought, we can't afford to pay for it at all with the measly amount of money left in the bank. In addition, my parents have to help pay for my high school tuition. This was a devastating blow. A week ago, I was worrying about what to spend on during my summer vacation. Today, I'm worried about how we're going to make a living. Taking a low minimum wage job will cover sh!t of the amount of payments my parents have to make. I want to help, but my parents refuse to allow me to work. They have an old saying, "Money corrupts.". I'm powerless, and can only worry about my parents and how they're going to get through this...

Anime took me by storm. I hated it at the beginning of this year. Now I have forsaken gaming for anime. I'm currently selling my Gamecube and all my games so I can get more (in addition pay my father back for is Father's Day present.). The bidding is still currently at $75, so if you are in need of a GC, you can help a person while getting stuff for really cheap. I'm going to ignore the reserve as I set it up by accident. Here's the link to the auction:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=8199205977&rd=1&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&rd=1

There is just something about anime that is so attractive. The genre just seems so fresh to everything else we're getting here in the States. Granted, not all of anime is good, but a high ratio of stuff that is released here is probably bearable and chances are, pretty good. It may be ironic to like anime for its "realism", but despite the fact that characters are animated, usually act very realistic, unlike many other works. Animation is very powerful, perhaps more powerful than live action if done right.

I have currently started a miniscule DVD collection consisting of not a lot of stuff. But I hope to watch more works and enjoy my newfound hobby for as long as I can. Cheers, and remember to bid on my GC for a really cheap deal!

I came here about last year, and even a month ago, I would still eagerly go onto the boards. The crap would always be there on the main boards, but I would always go to the VU and be entertained. Now however, what once was fun I now question if there is in any purpose to it, and the fun is slowly disappearing. I am growing out of the forums? I still hold the VU to high regard and as the best board around, and all the wankers as awesome community members, but the eagerness of visiting the boards is just dying away. Is it because the board turned into a giant PSP board for a while? The VU also hasn't been the same after the "incident". I'm not blaming anybody. It just feels like a completely different board. I hope the feeling is only temporary. The variety of boards that provide entertainment may also be a reason for a lackluster experience. Sorry Dire, but your Anime forum is kind of turning into the main boards. I'm not saying low posters are bad posters, but I know longer return to a returning cast at your board, besides you, Evil Lug, Sharrigan, and Alex, and some others, and I just see many new level 2 people with 10 posts and a "SEND ME FRIEND INVITE!" sig. It maybe because three of the Big 4 boards (Goose's Garage, System Wars II, Exodus) are withering away. I used to lurk in System Wars II and watch the loose, interesting political discussion. Now it's an obese version of its formal self, a kind of OT and SW combined, almost indentical to those two, but only a tiny bit better. In Goose's garage, a general sense of paranoia against the government is starting to popup. Exodus now...is OT. Maybe my two week hiatus in Hawaii will make the boards spankin' awesome again after I return. *sigh