The World of Anime

I know that Anime is the "not-so-newest thing since sliced bread" thing here in America. Every cable distributor, satellite operator and broadcast executive want to get their hands on the latest stop-frame, off-sync project every Toro, Shigu and Maru are cranking out on their desktop PCs in Japan. I bet there are 20 junior executives at the Hollywood Studios keeping track of every frame of animation in production, all with the hopes that they'll land the next "Spiderman."

Korea is another story. Just like the second son, Korea has to work a little harder for their place in the sun. Their animators work longer hours for far less than their Japanese cousins. It's sorta strange to watch Homer Simpson and know that he's drawn by a team of Korean animators.

Our vacuum conked out the other day, just before the big events of the weekend: Ben throwing ALL of his food on the floor and a Pyrex dish EXPLODING in the oven (I thought those things were shatterfproof)? Friggin' Corning Corporation. Anyway, Marsha went out and talked to the local vacuum shop guy. He asks how often we serviced the thing. She says never. He says, "oh."

So I unload the new Simplicity Vacuum and marvel at the incredible design. Really well thought out. Suck up last night's dinner from the floor and go to put it away. And then I come across this little picture and I realize how close "The Simpson's" and vacuums really are