TGIF! For lack of a better subject.

[azurite]

Thanks to mklutz, I've gotten inspired to make a series of Yu-Gi-Oh "inspirational" posters. Most of the requests so far have been for 'ship posters, and I've already got a waiting list of more. Some people have done characters, and other people have done character traits (i.e Noa for "Snark"), and I definitely want to do more that are "de-motivational" style. Check out the gallery of ones I've done thus far.

Coming Soon: Fragileshipping, Heartshipping, Tendershipping, Puppyshipping, Duel Tower, Change of Heart, Crystalshipping, Prideshipping, Black Magician, Azureshipping, Kisara (x2)

On a less light-hearted topic, because of the near-attack the British-Islamic people tried to pull on the U.S. yesterday, TSA regulations have gone up-- no more liquids or gels. The media rumor about electronics (cell phones, laptops, etc.) is an exaggeration according to the official TSA website, though, and that's a relief. For my flight up to San Francisco, I just have to remember to put all my cosmetics in my checked bag, and that sadly includes my favorite hand lotion. I don't think I usually have any other liquids (hand sanitizer?) or anything, so other than that, I should be good. But because of all the OTHER putzes out there, now it's recommended to show up at airports TWO HOURS in advance of your flight. -_- yay.

I heard tell of a woman who had a bottle of Chanel No. 5 and was told to throw it out or not board the plane; she chose not to board the plane (and so would I! Chanel is expensive!).

I still need to buy a new (sturdy) large-size suitcase for my trip to Japan though. YEEK LESS THAN A MONTH AWAY TIME TO FREAK OUT! >_> I've got so much to do, and I better get paid on time (in order to get that stuff done).

Back to the not-so-happy topic: I'm for visual profiling at airports. I don't consider that a violation of privacy, and in fact, even though the TSA regulations ANNOY me, I know they're for my own safety. Of course, I'm pretty much assuming that all the agents believe the same thing -that they're helping to protect people and keep them alive- and that they're all doing their job properly. I've never had to go through an additional screening process-- I usually make it a point of being way prepared for the security line, by checking in BEFORE I get to the airport, having very few bags to check, and not wearing anything that would be a pain to take off before the security checkpoint. I wish others thought this same way. But since they don't, and the TSA agent's jobs are hard enough as it is, why not do visual profiling? Considering the one thing all the jihadist terrorists have had in common in their Arabic background, why is it a bad thing?

Bill O'Reilly (who I don't watch regularly or like fanatically, but he makes good points) agreed with a caller this morning on his radio show, who said that if Islamic-Americans (I think Arabic-Americans would be a better term; someone of any color, size, or shape can be Islamic in religion/faith, but not everyone is an Islamic Fundamentalist/Extremist and LOOKS like they've been communicating with Al Qaeda) are offended by being screened, if they have nothing to hide (i.e. they're not terrorists), then what's the big deal? So they spend an extra 15 minutes getting their stuff rifled through-- it happens randomly to any passenger anyway, because all flights (as far as I know) have to pick at least 2 passengers to go through rigorous screening prior to boarding! My mom had to go through that before we went to Hawaii, and she's as white and American-looking as they come!

I don't know if I'm making much sense, and I don't want to righteously offend anyone, but hey, I said my piece. I hope anyone traveling in the upcoming future stays safe and smart! :)

Comments

[mklutz]

Power of MK. Ruining your brain, one post at a time.

[azurite]

Sounds like a soda.

[svelterose.livejournal.com]

I would choose to throw out the bottle of Chanel. Chanel No.5 smells like death. It's disgusting. When I smelled it for the first time in my life, it burned my nostrils. The price is definitely lower than that of an airplane ticket. I have Gucci and Armani perfumes and they smell much better. They're around the same price too.

The reasons they are offended is because their stuff is probably rifled through more than your mom. Feelings like that do not come just out of nowhere. True, they have nothing to hide and they were probably fine at first, but when you see your stuff being manhandled moreso than the white guy's stuff next to yours, then you would have those same thoughts and wonder if it's because of your skin color. Now, I'm not saying that people should be able to complain and get away without searching, my point is to say that one should see where they are coming from.

Btw...how does one like they've been communicating with Al Qaeda? o_O;;

I'm not even sure if it's okay to just label them all as Arabic-Americans because not all Arabians are Islamic (just because they're brown does not mean they are Arabian- they could be Indian too). Islamic-American is a more general term because that is what the fundamentalists/extremists are- Islamic; it would be more politically correct if they didn't have to be labeled at all especially on Bill O'Reilly's show.

[azurite]

Having personally never smelled (or remembering the smell of) Chanel No. 5, I have no idea. But I would get offended if I had something expensive and precious to me and told to just THROW it out, not even check it.

But yes, I do understand where they would be coming from --if in fact, their things were gone through more thoroughly JUST because of their skin color. Frankly I think it's stupid-- everyone should be searched equally thoroughly, because like I mentioned in the OP, you never know what an Islamic Fundamentalist really looks like-- you can just ASSUME that he looks Pakistani, Iraqi, Iranian, etc. (But generally speaking, the people that are or aim to be terrorists ARE of those nationalities, hence the "looks like they could/would want to communicate with Al Qaeda." I doubt Al Qaeda would accept a converted Islamic white guy, no matter how much he said he believed in jihad)

I'm pretty horrid with P.C.ness.

[svelterose.livejournal.com]

True true...but seriously don't smell it. It's such a masculine, woodsy, old smell. @___@ Man. I don't know how Nicole Kidman handled it. XD

Stolen(?) Images?

[enemy-lines.livejournal.com]

Hi, just a bit of a courtesy comment to inform you that I've encountered a Seto/Anzu video on YouTube which may contain stolen images. I remember that you posted an entry in the setoanzulove community about some vids with stolen fanart and such, and I also thought you might like to know because one of the images is taken directly from Blue Eyes and Apricots. It's the picture of Seto and Anzu from the layout, and it itsn't just the artwork, it's actually part of your layout.

The video is http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ZrY3RA-s3w ("seto and tea- never say die" by crazysycochick)

The image I speak of is at 01:42 in the video.

Thanks, I hope this was of help/interest/anything to you.

enemy_lines
aka Shipperness.

Re: Stolen(?) Images?

[azurite]

Thanks for letting me know about this. I've commented on the video to let the person know that I don't tolerate thieves (I was polite about it) and that they should take the video down; we'll see what happens. If they don't take the video down, I'll report them to YouTube.

AncientMemories, one of the thieves from before, reposted the video that was taken down, bitched at me behind my back, and blocked me (I'm not offended by the blocking; I blocked the other thieves, too). I posted a comment on her bulletin board asking for a link back to the site where the images came from, rather than just a link to my YT user profile. If she doesn't comply, I will report her and this other thief again.

If you spot any other videos with artwork stolen from BEA and other affiliated artists, let me know.