but the holidays are usually the time when most people are more willing to give to those less fortunate. so why not do that now?

http://www.thisisnotover.com/2005/12/baby_its_cold_o.html

just because time passes and the news no longer covers it, that does not mean that help is not still needed.

when you give to others, you are getting back something far better.

<3

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Plus! Saw about the first third of a film called Infection. Nice and creepy Japanese film set in a removed-from-civilization hospital. Word of wisdom for nurses/doctors: Don't try to cover up a death of a patient. Hehehe.

MORE LINKS TO USE! SO USE THEM!

http://news.deviantart.com/article/19158/

http://www.donorschoose.org/amazon.php

http://www.networkforgood.org/Yahoo/Katrina.aspx?source=YAHOO&RTP=http://news.yahoo.com/fc/world/hurricanes_and_tropical_storms

*****

http://www.redcross.org

http://www.secondharvest.org

Donate. Get your friends to donate. Get your family to donate. Make your boyfriend/girlfriend/sex slave donate. Offer your time to sort through items being collected or offer to drive a delivery truck or offer temporary housing. Start finding non-perishable food to be sent once it is needed.

Yea, gas prices are high and school is stressful and love is a bitch - but this is a REAL problem.

The little post-it on this DVD at Fat Cats got me very interested. It said 'This film has it all: lesbians, snuff films and trippy direction'. And so I rented it.

Not as good as it could have been, but I still liked it. If you did not click on the link above, a brief description: A young girl, who just happens to be a lesbian, is a talented photographer... yet is not satisfied with her work. Until she witnesses a death and becomes fascinated with taking pic of death in all its forms.

I liked that the lesbianism is viewed as MUCH better than S&M death stuff [lol]. I was expecting the film to make out like lesbians just go nuts one day and take pictures of bloody dead things. The acting is decent and some moments are genuinely creepy. Extras included interviews and trailer.

Takashi Miike is certifiable. But that is why I like him, disturbing though his films are. This one is not exception as we follow several yakuza gangs and the 'mysterious' one-man murder squad that is Ichi. Lots of gore, lots of sex mixed with extreme violence. This DVD has very little in the extras department, just previews for other films.

This one sounds VERY promising! ^___^

Koma starts off with a bang, but ends with a whimper - in my opinion. I was expecting another good Korean horror flick, and while there are some creepy moments, it is more a film about kidneys and friendships and various other topics. Not many extras with this DVD either. A small section of previews for other films put out by the production company is it.

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Seventeen Years is a bittersweet Chinese film, telling the story of two sisters - how their differences & a moment of anger forever changes the course of their lives. The acting is top notch and the ending *almost* brought me to tears. A wonderful film, but with no extras - except for a brief bio of the director.

While you find out more about Samara - and some parts were freaky...I mean, that part in the well O__O - but I did not think it was *as* creepy as the first US version of the very popular Ringu trilogy. Still all in all, good fun. And! I saw a trailer for the US version of Dark Water, which was a great Japanese horror flick.

Miike does it again, this time with an awesome horror film. It reminded me a lot, in some respects, of Phone--a Korean film. But this was more...spooky and the last bit in the old hospital kick ASS. The end left me a tad confused...but did not detract from the coolness of this horror flick. ^_^

IMPORTANT!

As most of you know, a large part of the Asian world has been hit by a disastrous tsunami, triggered by a 9.0 earthquake. Most of us cannot give personal aid, but financial donations are being accepted by a number of organizations.

Go here, here or this journal entry, which has a good list of places to check with.

Help out with anything you can. Ask friends and family. Any help is welcomed.

Gozu is so wonderfully tripped out. Typical Miike fare, really. But like the majority of his films (and M.E. is so right, the man makes so many damn films in a year...), there is more to the story than what is shown. Not much extra-wise with this one: some trailers for other movies was it.
All in all, though, I loved this one. Especially the 'OMFG' moment when the main boss guy dies...

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Kichiku took a while to grow on me. The cover touted just carnage--instead I saw a lot of sex and an almost drug like atmosphere. As it went along, though, I stared putting the pieces together. And that brain scene in the woods? Ugh.
This one has a whole other DVD of extras, well worth a look into the who and what of this rather disturbing film.

Heh.
Japanese horror films kick ass. And this one was enjoyable.
Decent cast and S.M.G. does great freaked-out looks. The wonderful Ryo Ishibashi is the main detective.
And familiar people everywhere in this film.
All in all, good spooky fun and perfect for the upcoming holiday.

A film quite like many others I have seen lately concerning Japan's youth.
I loved seeing the insanely beautiful Ryuhei Matsuda in this, since I have only seen him in Gohatto. The story itself is about more than school violence really...but then, not exactly.
You must be in the mood for this type of film I think.
But give it go anywho ^__~

A creepy Korean film that I quite enjoyed, even though it took me a while to figure out what the hell was going on [lol]
Well-acted, very spooky and disturbing--and like the site says--ultimately sad & depressing.
It seems as though Korea is getting really good at the horror films ^^

If you love yuri, then you will love this place! Many things to download and view that you cannot find--at the moment--in the USA.

**

The best Gackt fanart I have ever seen! O__O
If you are a fan of Gaku, you must go!!!

**

SWS is a cool original art site. But I do think there is a small amount of fanart as well.

**

Want a fansub of some hard to find anime? Then this is your place! They have damn near everything you could want and at great deals! I need to go there if I ever have some cash...

**

I have bought many DVD's and soundtracks from here. Good service and selection. Good prices. Go check it out ^_^

**

The Gackt section to this site was my first real exposure to Gackt and his insane need for pictures of himself. Of course, now I am obsessed [lol]

PotaPota (engel magic) is a nice little site with a small amount of HP fanart of what looks to be decent quality.
So, check it out if interested ^__^

UPDATED!!!
Another good HP fanart site. Nice amount of art, big focus on Sirius & Remus.

He does some of the most beautiful photographs--and all of them are within Japan.
Feast your eyes.

[yes, obsession is ugly]

A wonderful film about the horrors of war, about the clash of two very different nationalities (primarily British and Japanese) and the fine line between respect & distrust, between attraction & repulsion.

Of course, wonderful acting by a great cast: Tom Conti, Jack Thompson, David Bowie, Takeshi (Beat) Kitano and Ryuichi Sakamoto. Sakamoto also composed the majority of the score for the film. And it was directed by Nagisa Oshima, which equal coolness in my book.

Cure rocked. Part crime-drama, part thriller, part weird ass psycho thing....I loved it!! Now normally I would have a bit more information--but I am tired and refuse to look it up. But the extras are minimal...a trailer and filmography is it.
But the film is great! And being the slasher I am, I wanted to pair up Mamiya with the Detective!! LOL

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Lady Snowblood: Blizzard From the Netherworld was the prime inspiration for Quentin's 'Kill Bill' films. And it rocks--with an ending I did not expect. It is typical late sixties/early seventies type Japanese action film.
Lots of revenge and a good amount of blood.
No extras though ;___;

Azumi, from the same director as Versus, is the story of a group of men & one woman raised/trained to be the ultimate warriors. And then they must leave their mountain home, go into the outside world and complete the 'mission'.
Which is to kill lots of bad people! [lol]
Action-wise, this film is damn good fun. Plot-wise, I felt myself getting a *tad* bored...
But much good bonus materials for this film! A whole other DVD for it. Is good!

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Ley Lines comes as the last installment from the Triad Society Trilogy by my favorite director, Takashi Miike. But, admittedly, this is not one I would want to see again. Basically, two brothers and a friend are trying to leave Japan--and end up doing a lot of typical twisted shit in-between.
Some moments were good to me--like with the hooker especially. Trademark Miike stuff there. Extras are practically nothing...just some basic info about the first two films in the trilogy and one trailer.

I was watching this arts station and up pops this montage of paintings to violin music.
And they looked so familiar to me, so I kept watching...even jotting down the name of the artist. A little voice said repeatedly that this person had done some art for Neil Gaiman's 'Sandman'.
And, for once, I was right ^__^

Such gorgeous artwork, that sort of reminds me of the artist design for 'Arslan' as far as color use goes...but the drawings are amazing. And there is a store! For his books, shirts and so forth. If anyone wants to buy me one, I will not refuse ^__~