Morning! Welcome to another week of Stuff We Like brought to you by the letter 'c' and Freddy.  Want to know why? Because not only are you doing something good for yourself, you are doing good for others. Every work day I walk to the train station, take the train downtown, then walk to my work. Once my day is over I hoof it back to the station and get home. I am guaranteed to walk a minimum of 6 miles a day, 5 days a week. I do it because I enjoy walking. I put in my head phones, tune out the world, and just go. It's my time to myself, and I relish it. Even in subzero temperatures I walked to work. When a coworker was introduced to this app, the first person they thought of was me, because they know I'm already walking/running to and from work. Might as well do some good, right? *points down*  These are just some of the charities that are partnered with Charity Miles. The list is even longer. All reputable places you can give to while you're walking/running/biking. You pick one then Humana or Johnson & Johnson sponsors you as you do your thing.  If you noticed you have a selection and can go from there.
There are quirks, and some things I wish they could improve, but for now I'm happy that there is something out there like this. It's nice to know when I'm trying to take care of myself, I can help someone else too. All those cents add up after a while.
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Hi Everyone, Toni here for another episode of Stuff We Like. This week I'm here to talk about holidays. I'm currently in the countdown for my next trip to the U.S. 8 Sleeps and counting. *Squee*
One thing I'm not really looking forward to is the flights. Brisbane to LA is a 13hr flight. The return to Sydney is 15 hours. The problem with being 6'2 and traveling with a child under 15 is they aren't able to sit in exit rows - Which means no extra leg room for me. I'm gonna die!!! I have to say I'm a little excited and nervous about driving in the US, considering you all drive on the WRONG side of the road and the car! Plus, everything is in MPH... Seriously come over to the metric system people. It makes sense, I promise!!! So, if you see reports about an erratic driver cruising down the highway on the wrong side between Orlando FL and Atlanta GA in November, just ignore them, it'll probably be me, the crazy Aussie. I found out today that Darwin, is about to be hit by a heat wave. I have to say I'm a little happy we're disappearing, even if Chicago decides to snow for me. (I'm not build to handle snow, I'm from the tropics!!) A little over a week to go, I can't wait. I know it'll be all over before I know it, but the waiting is killing me! 
OK, it's Scott's inaugural SWL post!
I gotta lead off with one of my favorite things of all time - Robotech. Surprisingly, I'm not a big anime watcher generally. But one day back in 1984, as a Junior in High School, I ran across this new show on TV, and I was hooked. I had watched the Transformers, and found it cheap and episodic. Then I saw the first episode of Robotech and the opening theme. I still get a thrill when I here the music:
For anyone who is not familiar with Robotech, it was one of the early anime imports from Japan into the US. Originally three separate, series, it was knitted together with two transition episodes by Harmony Gold, the company that managed the import.
Ironically, I missed both transition episodes that first run - and so I came back to the series the next day and all the characters were different. What was different about Robotech (vs. US shows like Transformers) is that it was not episodic - each of the three series within it had its own story arc. In short, it treated its watchers like adults with an attention spam longer than 30 minutes. I used to have this poster of Rick Hunter on my bedroom wall: 
Later on in the series, I encountered Lancer/Yellow Dancer - who I would argue was an early transgender character (though you could also look at her as more of a drag queen). Either way, it was pretty revolutionary.
The next time the series ran, I begged my aunt to record all the episodes for me. But although she made a valiant effort, I still missed quite a few. So I started buying them on VHS. But with 90+ episodes and the cost at $20 for two, it was a losing battle too.
When the DVD sets finally came out, it was a Godsend. I now own them all, and watch the series periodically. If you've never seen it, I strongly recommend it. If you can get past Lisa Hayes' cinnamon bun hair: 
 Angel joins us again this week for another thing she loves. The term "swag" has some odd meanings these days. But when you talk about conventions, swag means the stuff you get to collect like a little autumn crazed squirrel as mementos, souvenirs and reminders of authors, artists and publishers you already like or want to know more about. I love this stuff and, yes, I'm a self-confessed swag hoarder. The buttons, the bookmarks, the stress squishies, the odd and unique things, they come home with me and, for the most part, sit on my shelf. (Though things like pens and mint tins and occasionally lip balm, I actually use as well.) Mischief Corner Books is going to be at Nijicon this year, speaking of swag, and we have swag this year both fun and useful. 10/24-10/25 - stop by and snag one. Not telling what it is. You have to come see us in the vendor room. ;)  |
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