Were "BLOG!" an onomatopoeia, each of these posts would announce itself with a resounding declaration. Alas, readers will have to provide their own sound effects.


Rains seem to have finally abated in my immediate locality, and if meteorological prognostication has gained any validity from its unending war against atmospheric chaos, than it seems as though soccer may be a viable diversion later in the week. Mechanics (both the Classical and Quantum varieties) cast their fearsome shadows across days more immediate however, and as such I shall likely gain little from the aforementioned cessation of precipitation; it seems as though some bizarre form of conservation mandates that when my desk clears of work, the skies must strew themselves with clouds.


My lunch today was spent enjoyably at the Sushi Boat restaurant. This becomes more exciting when one realizes that the eponymous vessel refers not to the source or quantity of ingredients, but rather to the fare's method of distribution; indeed, a flotilla of miniature wooden ships, each laden with an ever-replenishing cargo of delicious assemblages, circulates continuously about the bar.


The World Series now draws to a close with the Giants up three games to the Ranger's single victory. Former Oriole Aubrey Huff distinguished himself by hitting a two run homerun to back his pitcher's excellent outing; current baseballmen of Baltimore take note--ye need not abandon all hope just yet.


Finally I shall close this entry with today's villain. All Hallow's Eve demands an appropriate representative and I shall provide him. Meet Carapace Clavicle Moundshroud.

Created by famed Science Fictionist Ray Bradbury for his story "The Halloween Tree", Moundshroud is the owner of the supernatural plant in the title, a giant, gnarled oak which bears Jack-O-Lanterns in place of leaves. The book was adapted into an animated film (narrated by the excellent Leonard Nimoy) baring the same plot--several children seek to save the life of their friend Pip. You see, each of the Tree's grinning pumpkins represents a person's soul and as such Moundshroud is very much a grim reaper and a devil in the Faustian vein. Quite evil, his actions are still governed by some twisted form of law, and in the end he returns Pip to the world of the living in exchange for a part of each of the childrens' lives. A fiend indeed.

Genesis

Oh whatever ancient muse does here still reside, guide this accounting. I am well aware that the last thing that the internet needs is another blog, but given that humanity's inexorable spiral into frivolity and self-indulgence has been long assured and will surely continue unabated despite my best efforts, I feel no wrong from what I now do. Perhaps I will get a little linguistic exercise, perhaps I will inform those interested of my happenings and perhaps I will enjoy the process. In any case, let the words commence.


I'm a big fan of rain; it motivates me. Today it motivated me to get a TV, upon which I now view the World Series. I sincerely hope that the Giants can win before a Game Seven need occur as I would have a very hard time telling my students that there would be any consequences if they missed my class to cheer their team on in the most climatic of baseball contests. I also exercised my consumerist muscle with the purchase a rubber plant; if expertise steams only from familiarity than you could call me an adept on the species elastica (semicolons as well).  


Oh, and I started a blog today. Blame this guy. 


I plan now to study some Quantum Mechanics. I've become a big fan of entangled photons detected by Compton Scattering and hope to encounter them on the midterm next week. I do Physics, you see.


And now for the most exciting and anticipated part of the blog; the villain of the post! Each post I compose will be accompanied by a villain; don't bother to question axioms. Given my love for EarthBound (from which this very url is derived) and my sane state of mind, there is little choice about who deserves premier billing. Today's villain is none other than the pure, unadulterated manifestation of evil: Giygas.

Ness's nemesis, Giygas doesn't do evil, he is evil. In fact, evil is also Giygas. Condensed into logical terms, Giygas is a necessary and sufficient condition for evil. He is a malevolent, corrupting presence that battles the heroes of Mother 2 during every step of their wonderful journey. Driven insane by his own power, he seeks only to destroy the universe and the sole hope of opposing his omnipotence lies in ridding Ness of his inner evils, gathering the world's power and traveling back to the very beginning of time, when his strength was not yet absolute. Fighting him is the culminating experience of EarthBound, and unlike most games the protagonist and his allies cannot defeat him. Giygas can be bested only through the prayers of the actual player. 

_ned