20 years in prison for buying manga.

Actual link: http://www.mangaupdates.com/news.html?id=437

Yes, you read that right. Here's the deal. Christopher Handley of Iowa, USA was arrested about half a year ago for buying manga. One day, he receives 7 volumes of manga from the post office because he ordered them from Japan. The authorities follow him home because they already investigated the volumes and deemed them "obscene" and "objectionable." He is arrested, and they confiscate his whole collection: DVDs, manga volumes, VHS tapes, computers, etc. And now he faces a trial and up to 20 years in prison. All for ordering manga.

Now, it's true that sources say that some of the manga in question are yaoi. Sure, he may have had some hentai in his vast collection. But that's not the point. He was just going to read them in private in his own home. He didn't commit some heinous crime and rape someone. The issue here is about freedom. Your personal freedom.

The point is this. You decide what you want to read. Some of you (including me) will never read yaoi. Or yuri, or hentai, or gory/bloody stuff like Elfen Lied. That's our choice to make.
But what about this scenario? Your favorite series doesn't have any of that stuff usually. But just one place, in say volume 7, contains a single scene of rape to get the plot going in an interesting direction (mind you, it wasn't that graphic either). Now imagine the authorities busting into your house and arresting you because you own a manga series with that some obscene content here and there.

So how does this apply to you? Naruto has had some pretty graphic deaths before. Same goes for Bleach. You a shoujo fan? Ever read Peach Girl? Now read this news article. You can name many examples taken from your favorite series. I for one can think of scenes from Mahou Sensei Negima!, something I have personally helped scanlate for the last 2-3 years. Or even Gantz, which I know tons of you read. So who draws the line for what you read? You or them?

Now, I know what you're thinking. All your manga is downloaded, so there's no physical evidence of what you're reading. But investigators can check your hard drive or the trail you leave on the internet for what sites you visit. This may just be the beginning to something broader that could affect you in the future. Future technology could make it much harder for you to get your entertainment. Who can say? (Or the unspoken question: When/Will the companies finally crack down on fansubbing and scanlating?)

Or you're saying that you don't read any of that "hardcore" stuff? For sure you're safe... for now... With the current laws, you won't get prosecuted for reading Gantz (at least I hope so). But things can change, possibly for the worst.

So what can you do? I realize that a lot of you aren't even in the United States. But at least some scanlators are. And there are many manga fans here in the US too. I also realize that a lot of us don't have much money. (Or else why would we download illegally for free?) If you feel willing to help monetarily for this court case and future similar cases, you can do so by donating. If not, you can still spread the news to all the manga fans you know. At least I got you thinking. We fans could use better unity.

Or you can totally ignore this and feel it doesn't apply. Your choice.

For more information:
Donation Link
http://www.cbldf.com/SearchResults.asp?Cat=2

Background Information
http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2008-10-10/iowa-collector-charged-for-allegedly-obscene-manga
http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2008-11-24/lawyer-indicates-manga-in-iowa-obscenity-case-are-yaoi

Other Editorials
http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/editorial/2008-12-11/christopher-handley/jason-thompson
http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/editorial/2008-12-11/christopher-handley/carl-horn

This news post does not necessarily reflect the official view of MangaUpdates. This was written by I, lambchopsil, admin of MU. This is meant to get dead fans thinking outside of their own little worlds. There actually IS a global fan base for anime and manga.

Wolfram x Yuri pairing (Kyou Kara Maou series)

Let me be frank, I'm writing an absolutely random thing about my favorite KKM pairing. Yuri and Wolfram. Well, why not, It's my blog and I have rights! Yeah!
Anyway, It's a pairing between the ever so black maou of Shin Makoku and one of his royal knights/son of the previous maou/ and a major bishie. The love story all started when the ever so arrogant Wolfram von Bielfield badmouths Yuri and his mother who is a human (Wolfram is a self proclaimed human hater) and due to Yuri's love for his adorable mama, he actually slapped the bishie on the cheek. By doing so, one of the traditions of Shin Makoku accidentally happened. A traditonal proposal and engagement. ANd so they became an engaged couple. Pretty boring right? Well the fun starts when the series continues and Wolfram gets serious and gets anxious and jelous whenever Yuri speaks to every good-looking guys and gals on Shin Makoku. He even sleeps on Yuri's bed, wear matching outfits at times and introduces himself to Yuri's family as his fiance on Shin Makoku. They even have a daughter, well an adopted daughter named Greta who seems to be fond to both of her fathers. Total KYYAAA~ moment for yaoi fan girls and Yurram fans.

Although Yuri seemed confused of their engagement, I do hope that he sould finally give up and reciprocate Wolfram's pure and loving feeling. Well why not? Wolfram might be arrogant but he's still sweet and kind, he's also a bishie.

How to survive through Megavideo's barriers of death!

Well we all know that Megavideo is an ubberly useful site where they stream videos.It is especially useful for otakus since they do stream some animes there too. AND, we certainly do know that it has some cons too right? Trust me, I know that feeling of total bummerness.
Especially when your much anticipated episode has loaded and poof! "You have watched 72 minutes of videos today...blahblahblah" or your video doesn't play. Total Bummer. Honestly, it made me scream things you only see on crappy drama movies, "NOOOOOO!!!!!" literally.
THat is since it's only 72 minutes...25minutes per anime episode...so you get to watch only atleast 2 episodes and 12 minutes (am I right? I'm not that good at math), right? Here's what I (and some of my friends) do when that time of fury happens.

So, to outwit or so to say, to cheat your way through the '72minute Barrier of Death' here's what you could try doing these:

Beforehand note: These are only glitches that doesn't always work. Please don't eat me if your watching pleasure ceases to increase. It could only lead to 3 results(PM me if there's more):
a. It would only lessen the 54minute waiting time
b. It would work but it would still cease later on
c. It would work perfectly

1. Change your computer's date and time - After watching 2 episodes (or when you reach the 72 minute barrier, change the date and time of your computer. To do this, right click the clock at the bottom right side o fthe desktop, then click 'Adjust Date/Time'.
2. Remove it's source of power! The internet connection! - After opening tabs of megavideo, wait for it to load up to the end properly. Afterwards, remove the internet connection by pulling out the cable leading to the back of the CPU. And voila...you can now enjoy more than 72 minutes of anime!
3. Work Offline. - Shared by one of my closest friends(and a co-otaku), it's quite similar to the previous one, although you use another method. To do this, click File, then Work Offline.