AWAC Primer The cast: Capt Doug “Bear” Traversa (me), USAF, editor and ringmaster Capt Doug “Rat” Templeton, USAF, my hut mate and regular contributor Maj Steve “Odie” Odum, USAF, contributor Capt Mike Toomer, USAF, another hut mate and contributor Capt Drew Morton, USAF, another hut mate and contributor 1st Lt Dany Barcan, Romanian Army, fellow soccer player and contributor SSG Carrie Sawyer, US Army, contributor Maj John Rogers, USAF, contributing photographer Hamid, Han, and Wali, CMA interpreters Cute dogs provided by Papillon 911, Pom Posse, and North Central Maltese Rescue The setting: Camp Phoenix, Kabul, Afghanistan, home for most of us Central Movement Agency (CMA) - Afghan Army transportation base where I work Logistics Command - Afghan Army base where Rat, Mike, and Drew work ANA - Afghan National Army KAIA - Kabul Afghanistan International Airport 18 Apr 07 Listening to Trust and Justice from Vandread Never Forget Photo by Maj Rogers I’ve had a few people ask to be added to the list of AWAC readers, so I’m going to post the AWAC Support Staff at the end of each posting for the remainder of our time here. I don’t want anyone to feel left out. Want to be on the Support staff? Just send me an e-mail. I’ve added Monet Thomas (after Taylor scolded me), Peter and Amy Fleming, and Eve (Black) Iwicki, so you know she is Doris Black’s daughter, and Jed’s brother, and Maj John Rogers (even though he’s listed as our photographer, he wanted to be on the list). Today was going to be the day where all of us, old and new team, went out to CMA for the big introduction, meet and greet, horse and pony show, etc. However, our vehicle had mechanical problems, and we never made it off Phoenix. This is just as well, as it allowed me to spend a good 3-4 hours trying to kill the Zombie Project From Heck. Like any good undead tasker, it takes a licking but keeps on ticking. This time I beheaded it, drove a stake through it’s heart, circled it with salt, and shot it with a silver bullet. I burned the body and buried the ashes on consecrated ground. What else would Kolchak The Night Stalker have done? We’ll see how dead it stays. Of course, the fact that I spent another day here, as opposed to CMA, means I have less to talk about. I was strong and only watched a couple of Vandread episodes last night so I could get sleep. However, it is shaping up to be one of my top five, unless it collapses in the second season (but The Rossman assures me it gets much better). Two superb opening themes for the two seasons is just frosting on the cake. I will have another edition of Afghanime for you tonight too. Han has been sending me information on Islam and the Qur’an, because he disagrees with some of the things Hamid has been saying. This is hardly surprising, as two Christians will also disagree on many points (try having a Roman Catholic and a Southern Baptist explain the faith to a Muslim). So I’m sure we’ll be having more on this topic soon. I wish Han and I had started talking sooner, as he is very interested in sharing info with all of you. I read a 30-page introduction to the Qur’an he sent me yesterday. One thing that struck me was the statement that the Qur’an corrects all the mistakes in the other older, more primitive holy books, like the Bible. Muslims don’t believe that any of the prophets ever sinned (at least according to this commentary), so stories of Abraham or Moses sinning are false. This was new information to me. Sorry gang, but that’s about it. I packed up another box of stuff I don’t want to carry home, including my nifty mini jingle truck (and I checked with Hamid, he’d never heard of “jinga” truck). Vandread marathon tomorrow (unless Zombie Project rises from the ashes)! ---------------- Tonya’s Cute Dog of the Day: Rat has not caved yet. Maybe photos of more manly dogs will weaken his resolve. Han sent along this photo of his dog, Lucky. ---------------- Afghanime - Anime Reviewed from the comforts of a B-Hut 
Midori Days -
Anime is known for a willingness to examine the most ludicrous situations, and we have a doozy today. I first read about Midori Days way back in the early days of my anime research. The description went something like this: “Class tough guy wakes up one morning to find his right hand has been replaced by a miniature version of a shy girl who has had a crush on him for years. Comedy ensues.” Yeah, sure. Let’s find something a little more geared towards men. Mini girl puppets indeed.
I had completely forgotten about this show until it showed up on a demo disk from my Newtype USA magazine. I try them all if they’re free. I may stop after two minutes, as I have done a few times, but I at least give them a shot. So I popped in Midori Days, and was very surprised by the amount of laughing I did. So much so that when I had a chance to get it from one of those insane sales from the folks at Rightstuf, I bought it. I was not disappointed.
It's hard to look intimidating like this
Seiji “mad Dog” Sawamura is a high school punk, feared by all. Unfortunately, this means all the girls are terrified of him, so he’s never had a date. Midori Kasugano is a terribly shy girl who has always admired Seiji. “Why?” you may ask. I did. It seems that although Seiji is always in fights, he does so to defend the innocent (but no one seems to have picked up on that).
One day Seiji wakes up, and his right hand has been replaced by a puppet-sized version of Midori, who is thrilled to be attached to the man she loves. She is annoyingly sweet, and Seiji is understandably upset, for a whole variety of reasons. I will pause here to point out that while this situation could quickly descend into an endless series of crude jokes, it doesn’t.
Seiji and Midori (who is usually wrapped in bandages so it looks like Seiji is injured, rather than sporting a very realistic puppet) travel to her home, where they find the full-sized version of Midori is in a coma, and all the doctors are mystified. You might think that Seiji and Midori would tell someone what has happened, but the show wouldn’t be half as fun if they did that. Rather, they make some lame attempts to figure out the cause (well, to be fair, how do you figure out something like this?), but mainly bounce around from one high school comedy situation to another.
Puppet Geek discovers Midori
In a most amazing coincidence, one of Seiji’s classmates is a geek anime figure and puppet collector. Gee, what are the chances? He sees Midori, but assumes she’s just a high-tech puppet, and spends a few shows trying to figure out where Seiji got her, or how he can steal her. I can’t possibly do it justice in this review, but these are some very funny scenes. It also kept me guessing with a couple of romantic triangles, and I really didn’t know how this one was going to end.
Midori days was far too short, at only 13 episodes. You may also remember that it won Best Romantic Comedy in the Afghanime Awards, and it certainly gets a listing on my recommended links.
1. Humor - Lots and Lots
2. Artwork - Excellent
3. Music - Forgettable, but at least not memorably bad
4. Plot and Characters - Very good. Seiji, Midori, and his classmates are well-developed and believable (except for puppet fetish guy). Seiji acts with class, and Midori does some growing up.
5. Just One More? - Yes, I was always left wanting to watch another episode
6. Would I Buy More? - Yes, but the series really finishes up nicely, and I don’t see a sequel being likely
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Care Packages:
Marieanne D’Antonio sent two packages, one for me and one for Dany. Thanks. I appreciate it, even if the guys delivering mail say things like “Isn’t it a little late to be getting care packages?” Hey, it’s never too late. Well, at least while I ‘m here, it’s never too late.
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Five Seconds of Fame:
Yesterday’s quote, “How do you explain school to a higher intelligence?” was from the classic, and I do mean classic, movie ET. Only Peter Fleming, Maj Teri Centner, and Eve Iwicki got it right. Eve sends this photo of her husband, Mike, and her cute dog, Pepper, just for Rat to enjoy.
Remember, you too can be famous. Just identify the quote (without using Google) and send me an e-mail. You can also send a photo of your choice to be posted.
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Quote of the Day: Two quotes today, both from the same show
“I'm the last of the tiddly-winking leapfroggers from the golden summer of 1914. I don't want to die... I'm really not over keen on dying at all, sir.”
“Rather hoped I'd get through the whole show, go back to work at Pratt and Sons, keep wicket for the Croydon Gentlemen, marry Doris. Made a note in my diary on the way here. Simply says: "Bugger".”
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Sir, we need to see you driver’s license. We think you've been driving under the influence of a great day. Please step out of the car.
- Bear
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Here’s Rat -
From time to time I have talked about the literacy rate here in Afghanistan being pretty low. You may ask what effect can this have on the society as a whole. Well many things have been discussed in the past such as not being able to have a skilled job, not understanding written directions, seems no man really needs directions, and of course no education can mean you are subject to believe things that may not be true.
This would be do to the fact you have no technological knowledge of how things work so you have to believe what you are told since you are unable to logically understand what makes things tick. Just such an event happened here yesterday that is a great illustration of this principal as well as it will give you some idea of what we have been dealing with over the past year.
Yesterday it was reported in the local news that if you answered your cell phone and it was from a number you did not know you could be killed. The really interesting part of this story was the method of how you would be killed. Not by guns, being hit by a bus, or a heart attack, but by a laser shooting out of your phone and penetrating your brain.
Hard to believe right? Well I am here to tell you almost all cell phone users in Afghanistan turned their phones off to avoid the chance of being hit with this horrible fate. The Ministry of Defense even sent a memorandum to all subordinate units warning them of this potential hazard and directing them not to answer their phones. This is an official government agency. How can you combat this kind of understanding of technology? The last line of the memo even said, “One person has already died!”
I read about this in the main stream media last night and almost didn’t believe it, but after talking with others today, I have confirmed it did in fact happen and they did in fact turn off their phones in fear. Good thing nobody called me yesterday or I wouldn’t be telling you this story.
Ratman, Killer cell phone survivor
[Rat speaks the absolute truth. Hamid was asking me if there was any danger. But before we all get too smug, how many buildings in America don’t have a thirteenth floor? -Bear]
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Here’s Odie, who may well be in the States by now, if not actually home -
At Manas
This will include a few more pics (at the risk of mountain overload) and not so much text. The time at Manas was great for me. They also have gorgeous mountains so I will show those pictures right up front if you promise to read the rest of the post.
If there were some way to stay longer and yet still get home at the same time, I would want to take it. Others would go stir crazy. I have a small room (better than a tent!), not much wider than I am tall, and with a small chair and no windows; the only way to know if it is day or night is to leave the building entirely. There is no work to do and no scheduled activities, no responsibilities, and all I have to do for food is walk over to the chow hall and eat it. This is a recipe for insanity for most of the military type-As that I know. I, however, am not a natural type A. Of course, until now, only my hairdresser knew for sure, because in the military environment, type-A behavior is expected and rewarded. I am happy as a clam. I have books and a gym and unlimited time to pursue my reading interests. I went by the BX and bought several science fiction books even though I won’t have time to read them, just because it made me happy to think about it. Right now, I am alternating between one serious, educational book, and one “fun” book. I alternate. The serious book is The Blind Watchmaker by Richard Dawkins and the “fun” book was Flyboys. I use the quotes because anyone who has read Flyboys knows it is really pretty heavy stuff. I mean “fun” in that it takes little effort to get through the book. Dawkins, as readable as he is, deals with a subject that is hard to make into a page turner. Next I will read a sci-fi for non-quoted fun and my serious book will be The Design Revolution by William Dembski. A couple of days of uninterrupted (except for these posts, of course) reading. Odie heaven.
We got off out of Manas and I am sending this from Turkey, if I hurry. So with that,
Cheers!
Odie
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And a special thanks to our readers. Without you, we might as well be a bunch of monkeys hoping to accidentally type out the script of Hamlet:
The AWAC Support Staff
My wife Jancy
My kids, Taylor, Elise, and Ryan
My parents Peter and Nancy Traversa
My sister Susan Carnes
My nephew Daniel Carnes
Jed Black
Matthew and Gloria Gauthier
Monet Thomas
Pam, Chris, Helen & William Sande
Doris Black
Eve (Black) Iwicki
Leta Carruth
Bruno Mota
Pixelkiller
Matti Harris
Glynne Harris
Helen Chen
Caitlin Bright
Dana Schwartz
Mary Talarek
Jean Macfarlane
Carolyn Bullard
Shari Harrall
Monica McKean
Anna, Pick, and Rocky Lyman
Stan Borek
Robin Radlein
Judy Pappas
Diana Walker
Debbie Yeoman
Peter Hohenstein
Dan Zambon
Maj John Rogers
TSgt Derek Paris
Kathy Terri
Sharon Van Name
HC
Gael Buhlert
Raphael
Laura Ostrander
Maj Teri Centner
Linda and Dave King
Lori Holloway
Marieanne D'Antonio
Peter and Amy Fleming
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Letters to the Editor
I say it has nothing to do with education. It has to do with gullibility. If I read it there -- insert trusted source here -- it must be true. For many Americans, that trusted source is the Internet.
So Afghan phones kill people with lasers and American cell phone explode gas pumps. Only they don't. (http://www.snopes.com/autos/hazards/gasvapor.asp) But tell that to all the gas station owners posting stickers that say "NO phones allowed near this pump."
Posted by: Teri Centner | April 19, 2007 at 03:06 AM
What a strange anime! But if you say it's good Bear, then all right. :-)
I heard about that whole cell phone thing, Rat. I suppose some people would laugh at them for believing it, but frankly, when I hear about these kinds of things, it just makes me sorry that they haven't had the education they need. It also makes me thank God for my own education. The next time my students complain about class or tests or papers, I think I'll remind them of how lucky they are.
You can never have too many mountains, Odie. I hope you're home by now! :-)
Posted by: Matti | April 19, 2007 at 12:17 AM