Interesting links, hmm?

Short post for today.
I recently picked up reading tvtropes.org (a hellishly ensnaring site if there ever was one), and managed to find my way to Hetalia, Deadpool, and all manner of other things.

Hetalia is a pretty amazing webcomic/4-koma/anime written by a Japanese guy who has way too much time on his hands. (index of scanlations can be found here: http://sites.google.com/site/hetaliaindexes/)
The strip personifies countries and then teaches history by acting out events with said personified countries. That being said, the whole series is a delightfully irreverent account of what would normally be snore-worthy material. I mean, I like history well enough, but I absolutely love Hetalia.
I think fanart is in order, hmm?

Another history-based webcomic occurs in the form of Kate Beaton's site: Hark, a Vagrant
The same that is said about Hetalia can be said about Hark, a Vagrant. The site is a collection of historical comics that details some of the lesser known events in history (and lots of Canadian history to boot) with a slightly...unusual take on the characters. I mean, even John Adams gets to have his fun. The personal comics about the artist are also quite amusing, and I always look forward to updates.

Both these comics feature quite a lot of research and care to get all the facts straight, and are excellent study tools for classes like World History, Canadian History, History, and Comedy.

May also be an excellent source of laughs.

TooOhOhAte

So living in 2008 and watching the 08/08/08 ceremony ought to have tugged a few heartstrings out there.

We are watching history being made. World record after world record smashed to smithereens. Phelps becoming the most decorated Olympian in history; I mean, who didn't get excited watching the 400 meter relay? He's got half of America's golds to his name. Additionally, May-Walsh battle ahead in beach volleyball, not having lost a game.

But along with history and achievements come the media, and the media drags along controversy. Phelps has been painted as a glutton for consuming 12,000 calories a day. The man deserves it. Give him a break.

But there may be a real issue behind the ages of the Chinese women's gymnastics team, and the proof is in every photograph of the team. And the Chinese are already under definite criticism for denying a bucktoothed girl the chance to appear in the opening ceremony, lending her voice instead to a cuter kid.

Tensions run high as countries butt heads in what should be a friendly sport. But let us not forget that in the meantime, Georgia and Russia are locked in violent combat. However healthy competition may be, it does promote hard feelings, and politics is an integral part of the current status quo. The Swedish wrestler who threw down his medal in disgust blamed politics for the judgment that lost him the gold.

But what does that mean for us, the teenagers who don't spend our entire lives training or following politics? Specifically, I've dedicated about 2 hours a day for primetime NBC screenings. What have I observed?

Well, those mens' gymnasts are pretty cute...