As a special thanks to Cheapy for his awards and the hard work the bloggers have put in, I have gone ahead and collected bonus entries from all of the people nominated and compiled them here. We all really hope you enjoy them!

sliderwave received 7th place in the voting and submitted this masterpiece.

Hey look. It's Cheapy and he's wresting a bear. Because he can. It's funny. It's not something he would normally do... So it's funny. Ah, you guys and your 7th place! I'm going back to SomethingAwful!

Next, with an amazing 2nd place finish is The Mana Knight. His entry is something he put together special just for this. He said that he hopes you will enjoy it.
Hey everyone, it's me, The Mana Knight, again. TMK wants to thank all of TMK's fans with a special TMK blog entry and this is it. Thanks for reading!
Yeah, sorry, that is pretty much all that TMK ...

I have owned Killzone 2 since just a month or so after it came out. I don't remember what I traded for it anymore, but it must have been a pretty good trade as the game was super hyped at that time.

Unfortunately, as is the case with many of my games, it just sat on the shelf waiting for me to have the time to invest in it.

As I have been getting ready for my upcoming sale, I decided to add it in and figured, this would finally be the motivation I needed to slap it in the PS3 and finish it up before I sold it.

My wife, Ai, was all set to watch me play the game as I had told her about how much everyone loved it and talked up the graphics and action. Then I plugged it in and had to wait nearly 30 minutes for all the patches and updates.

Nevertheless, half an hour later, I was ready for action!

I get to the setup screen and I cannot figure out why they would make the background all "shifty" when I am supposed...

The first thing my wife said to me when I saw her after I got off work today was "I saw the picture of your girlfriend".

I was stunned for just a second and then I simply asked "What?".

She told me that she opened the closet and a cheki fell out. Just in case you don't know, a cheki is like a small Polaroid instant photo. They are actually from Fujifilm and are extremely popular in Japan.

I laughed and said that I didn't even have a cheki camera.

She said that she knew it was my girlfriend to which I promptly replied "I wish!".

Here is the photo in question:

In the event you are not aware, this is Mihiro. If you are still not sure who this is, just Google her name.

Anyway, as soon as I realized what picture she was talking about, I started laughing. First of all, because she actually thought I...

Beginning in March, I will have no real job.
It's actually a choice I have made on my own as several negative things all happened in the last couple of months.
First, I was accused of sexual harassment and had to await the "verdict" which didn't turn out well.
Since then, I have been looking for another job without success.
Most recently, I have been sent out on important assignments and asked to do many things that are now well above my paygrade all the while, being encouraged by the same people that can't or won't believe my version of events.

Basically, the past two months have seen a nearly 30% reduction in my pay, loss of bonuses and no extra incentives at all.

In this time, I have been;
- asked to teach more regular lessons in the learning studio.
- asked to improve the success (new client) rate of a failing learning studio.
- asked to improve employee morale as it was my old learning studio and everyone...

Damn Colts.

Here's my point of view.
10-0 in the first quarter: Saints were totally off balance.
10-6 in the second quarter: Saints were gaining just a bit of traction, had scored 3 points and then the Colts stuffed them on 4th and goal. 2 minutes left for Peyton to do what he does best... Who the made the decision to basically have them phone it in and try to end the half? Are you ing kidding me? So, instead of a score effectively making it 17-3 at the half, they end up giving the ball back to the Saints who kick another field goal. Everyone seemed happy the Colts were still up at the half, but I thought it was over as they had basically given up a possible 10 point swing in their favor and given the Saints the advantage.

So, what I'm saying is, I can't wait to read who made the decision not to run the 2-minute drill at the end of the first half and, in my opinion, blew the game for the Colts right there by giving the Saints so much momentum....

So, anyone that has read my blogs these past couple months should know about the serious allegations brought against me at work.
Unfortunately, the result was certainly not in my favor.

I have continued to work there through January at my reduced rate of pay, simply because not having any money is worse than continuing to be there where many people believe the lies.

But, one thing that is very strange and is really bothering me, is that they continue to act as if they are supporting me!
First of all, although they know I am forced to find other employment and have been actively searching, they still recommend that I teach lessons and do first meetings so I can "get a bonus to help myself out financially". Yeah, that would be great if it weren't for the bonus being paid out every 6 months. You get absolutely nothing if you leave before and, as they know, I must! Basically, I feel like slave labor at this point.

That's not the...

But not as racially insensitive as Transformers RotF, I promise.























...

Today was/is my birthday.
My wife, Ai, got me a birthday cake with a special hidden surprise!


Seriously though, it was nice of her, but look at it!


It's covered in a complete shell of chocolate (maybe not a quarter inch, but I felt it was close in places!) with a thick, giant dark chocolate medallion on the top.

You'd think that maybe you would get inside and things would tone down a bit though, right?
WRONG BITCH! Enjoy your insulin injections!

But it was DEEEEEE - licious!

Thanks for all the positive comments and advice from the first blog.

I was sat down and spoken with today, so I now have all the answers.

It seems it would be best to make a short version for many of you and a full version for those of you interested to read through it all.
Have your pick.


FULL VERSION

Many people have talked about how this is pretty much a raw deal in not so many words, and I agree. However, some others have pointed out (and accurately) that this is often how business works in Japan. This is a country where businesses go bankrupt and can't afford to pay their employees, but employees are expected to continue working until dismissed out of respect for the company.

As for any kind of legal recourse, as I've said a few times previously, the contract pretty much allows them to do whatever they would like at any time. Discount or refuse bonuses with no notice, offer you a new contract at a lower ...

Yep, you read that right.

There is this girl at work who claims I sexually harassed her. I was taken aside today and told that she has filed a claim against me. I was shocked!

First of all, I just assumed that I said something stupid and maybe she misunderstood since her English isn't all that great, but no... Actually the claim says that I have been touching her regularly at work when no one else is around. Obviously not something that I could not notice.

It should go without saying, but I'll say it anyway - it's not true.

Actually, I thought that she and I had a very good working relationship. Often she would ask for advice about how to handle a client or how she should offer a certain package because of my sales background.

For months everything has been fine, but in November, we had a fairly big argument when I confronted her about one of our clients which, I felt, needed quick follow-up. She had noted...

Sometimes I just really get in the mood to play a game. I don't just mean any game, but I mean the game. You just lost it.

What I really mean is, that one game that, no matter how long you played it, you always felt that you needed to go back for more. Sometimes something totally innocuous would remind you of the game, or sometimes, you would be reminded of it without even being able to pinpoint the reason.

Unfortunately for me, that game isn't something I can easily play anymore due to it being an older title with no backward compatibility and also a lack of infrastructure.

This is the game that, if I could choose only one game for all time, I would ask that they add it to Xbox LIVE and the Playstation Network.

Why won't they bring this game back? Really! It's driving me crazy! It seems like a slam dunk!
I'm going crazy for it!

Literally minutes ago, I found myself thinking of it and had to go online looking for screenshots,...

Some pics;

Birthday Breakfast - His first french toast.




After meal recovery.


Playing with his new Duplo blocks.


At his favorite park.



...

I could be linking all night if I tried to reference all my blogs with bad news in them. Typically, the bad news is somehow money related. However, I've tried to keep things more upbeat recently (because I had promised one more bad post) with more positive blog entries related to my son, Ryu, and his new adventures in walking, making fun of The Mana Knight, Engrish and crappy China. OK, so maybe that last one wasn't really upbeat.

Anyway, it's thanks to the post about Ryu walking that my wife cried.

I have many friends on CAG, and when I say friends, I really mean that. Not just some people I know from a message board, but people that I would have no problem inviting into my life.

These people always help me through my tough times, and that's one reason why we are friends, not only that though (because it's kind of a shitty, greedy reason, isn't it?), but I also feel that they just "get me" and that's not something that comes along...

Just found out a few days ago that my "100% guaranteed original" Microsoft 120gb HDD that I got from ebay months back is, in fact, a bootleg version.
I fought with the seller tooth and nail after I got it too as it came with no packaging, but they said in the ad that it did. Unfortunately, ebay said that if I wanted to return it for a refund, that I would have to pay trackable shipping. Well, what's the point when shipping it back would cost me over $30? DAMN!
I asked what about it being described as new in package in the ad. The ebay rep asked if I had saved the packaging, I said no, it had no packaging. I was told that if I didn't have the packaging I could not prove that it was not properly packaged.

WTF?!?!?!

Anyway, I went on saying that I obviously got ripped off and the ebay rep verified that the seller is a trusted ebay power-selling member that sells only official products.

OK, fine, I relented after having already...

If anything deserves not to wait for a blog, it's this.

I requested some new file folders at work to get things a bit more organized. The shipment came in today and HOLY ! These folders are ing amazing!

Look at this!


Now, I know what you're thinking; either "uhhh, that looks like a regular folder to me" or "why didn't he make the pic smaller?

The answer to both of those questions is SHUT THE HELL UP! THIS IS THE FOLDER OF THE GODS!

Alas, I too was once one of you. I too doubted that the folder you have just layed eyes on could be anything more than plastic.

However, upon opening said folder, the rapture cometh!



And who can doubt the power of this folder now? Yes! that's right, bow down disciples and follow your...

Today, for the first time, I had the realization that having lived in Japan that last 4+ years, that I really am out of the loop.

I was breezing through the old newspaper (Monday's edition) in the break room looking for sports scores. I found that the Colt's are still up to their winning ways. After seeing that, I moved onto the NBA. Now, for the record, I used to be hardcore into basketball when I was younger. I was a big card collector as well, so I knew everyone that was anyone. But, the second Olympics when pretty much all the big head athletes thought they were too good to represent the U.S., I started to lose interest.
I moved onto the NFL, which I didn't know much about, but always enjoyed seeing the action.
Hockey was an alternate selection. I was a big fan of our minor league team (YOUR FORT WAYNE KOMETS!), but didn't ever actively try to catch the NHL games on TV.
Anyway, I decided to start with the NFL as I figured I should, with the home team....

*For those of you that don't know. This is my big, long emo blog about what my early years were like. Basically, if you want to be like me, you have to fill some portions of your life with suck, fill some other portions with fail and then balance it out with a bit of awesome. It's a tough recipe!
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My father left about 2 months before I was born.

I remember my mom had a few different boyfriends when I was really young, but she ended up getting remarried when I was 6 years old.
So, although I had a step-father, he was pretty much my real father as he was the only one I had ever known.

He had a son from a prior marriage, but he lived with his mother, so I really only saw him once a month or so. We knew that we were "brothers" but the word didn't mean much, we were really just play buddies on weekends and holidays here and there.

Anyway,...

I typed that comment in your blog and then refreshed the page to this and has to screencap it.

Just a real quick blog entry to ask a question.

Do any of you feel like you are part of a CAG family?
Maybe not with everyone, but with a certain group of people?

I feel like that. I've felt like this for awhile actually.

The reason I ask is this, sometimes, I like to make my YomiJ entries for these people. I mean, I don't care who else reads (or doesn't) read them as I'm not a very private person, but I share the stories because it helps me get something off my chest, you know?

Anyway, a couple people have stated that my life has been rough, and I really don't think so. People don't often go on about all the great times in their lives (of which I have had many) as the difficult parts usually sit a little closer to the surface.

What I'm getting at here is, I do have one more part of my life that's just floating at the surface. It's something that I have never detailed to anyone actually, and I'm starting to feel that,...

Ryu will be one year old on November 30th.

For the last 2 months he has been walking around, but only when he has a hand to hold or something to lean on. As soon as he would get a few inches away from any type of support, he would go right back to crawling.

Today, all that changed!

For the first time, he started taking a few steps on his own so I broke out the camera.

Here he is at about 5PM today, just a few minutes after taking his first unassisted steps.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P6MH5smVA_c

Then here he is, only 2 hours later, walking up a storm! Everything changes from today...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3L48xwDcP14

Please forgive the video quality. I only have a digital camera that records MOV files in crap quality.

Here's a tip for would be parents: save up for a good camera and or video camera before you have kids. Sadly, we are going to be missing tons of moments because...