As you may have read earlier today, Nintendo World Store is holding a small memorial for Satoru Iwata who untimely passed a couple of days ago. While there was one or two Tweets regarding the event, My Nintendo News decided to send one of their own (i.e., me) over to pay our respects, along with our communities, and document the scene. Walking up to the store, one wouldn’t notice anything outside the norm — bustling tourists roamed around the streets of Rockafeller Center taking pictures as the Splatoon-decaled windows invited guests. However, stepping inside, there was a line leading to the door — the final destination being the tasteful Iwata memorial.
On the black-clothed table laid three notebooks, a host of pens, gifts that a select few had left, and a picture of Iwata-san. From the twenty minutes I spent there, the line never shrank; fans, new and old, stood both solemn and teary-eyed.
Among the gifts were a pixel-art crafted Pirhanna Plant. real flowers, handwritten notes, drawing, and origami swans.
Nintendo fans were given as long as they wanted to write a note to the gaming legend — some spent minutes while another person wrote pages. While I was not able to get a confirmation where these letters will be going (and we have reached out to Nintendo for an official comment), a representative on the scene believed they would be sent to Nintendo of America, Nintendo Japan, and Iwata’s family. Further, they believed that the memorial would be open for the next few days — possibly even weeks. However, the staff on hand kept a cheerful solemnity — what you would expect from a Nintendo representative in mourning.
Thanks to the My Nintendo Fans at the event in the picture who let me take a photo of them!
While I didn’t want to keep the line behind me waiting, below are a collection of statements from My Nintendo News comment sections that I was able to write. Captions are included because my hands were shaking — it’s been a rough day for me, and the atmosphere was at times heavy.
The book/page that was signed was the one all the way on the right
Full Page
“R.I.P. Lord Satoru Iwata, you will be missed. This is Xeno Ridley, coming directly to you from MyNintendoNews.”
“Satoru Iwata, you were one of Nintendo’s greatest people ever. I will pray for your family.” ~Naomi
“You will forever be an inspiration to the world. I hope we can all find something to be as passionae about as you were about games.” ~Courtney Osborn
“Thank you for the memories — yours will not be forgotten.” ~ Brennan D.
“Leave luck to heaven, Nintendo — Iwata-san will be watching you from there.” ~ Louis Contaldi
The most noteworthy thing, however, was the amount of joy still surrounding the memorial. While many were in mourning and (rightly) upset, people (both kids and adults) navigated the two story building with huge smiles on their faces. As normal, everyone was playing a Nintendo game, be it on Nintendo 3DS or Wii U. This is the true testament of Iwata — the joy he is still able to bring among the sadness.
Visual representation on how we let technology ruin social interactions and pleasant experiences.
Me: *hates this*
why do baby boomers love to produce this “technology is bad fire is scary and thomas edison was a witch” garbage?
fuck THIS
I never see a cashier with an empty queue. Self-serve checkout machines make life GREAT for people with social anxiety or self conscious people. I get nervous that everyone is judging my weight. So when I do my monthly ice-cream, chocolate, and menstrual products run, I will do it with a fucking self-serve machine.
I’m happy seeing my friends take photos of their food. I like taking photos of my food. Because there is a chef in the back of the kitchen who works hard to plate things beautifully and in any other situation, people dive in immediately and ruin that image. We take photos to preserve that image and who the fuck knows, if I was the chef I would be digging through instagram hoping to see my plate on there. We’re celebrating someones hard work, work that is generally temporary.
And I don’t know what kind of friends you have, but if someone is taking a photo of their food, I’m not gonna bother talking to them until they’re done. Why would you try to have a conversation when someone is busy?? And it takes a few minutes, you can wait for someone who wants to perform a small act of creativity.
It’s nice to get likes on instagram. If you’re monogamous and on tinder, it’s not technology’s fault you’re contemplating cheating. What is SO BAD about having food delivered to your home? And is there anything wrong with having movies streaming instantly? No - but if you complain that Netflix takes up your life than be an adult and step back. It’s not technology’s fault that you have no self control.
Selfies are fun. Selfies are great. Your friend is a jerk if they don’t even take a minute to take of photo of you as well. Why do you care if people use technology around you on the subway? That makes me feel less self-conscious that people are staring or judging me. They can play their games, read, etc. Someone is occupied, why is that so wrong?
Your phone has a zoom option so you can record/photograph a concert? FUCKING good for you!
And again. If your phone keeps you up, be an adult, get some self control and step back.
Technology isn’t bad. You’re just upset with yourselves for having a lack of self-control. You hate that people connect through technology. And maybe, you just don’t like seeing people love themselves, enjoy life, and feel joy. That’s your problem, not technology’s.
i’ll just leave this here:
this isnt new, this isnt technology’s fault. this is human fucking nature and stop pretending everyone used to talk in public transportation omg
Aries: Supernova / They are the wild and explosive
Taurus: Planet / They are the strong hearts
Gemini: Binary Star / They are the unique and fascinating
Cancer: Dwarf Star / They are the radiating souls
Leo: Pulsar / They are the beating lights
Virgo: Constellation / They are the connected and detailed
Libra: Galaxy / They are the bright and beautiful
Scorpio: Black Hole / They are the deep and intense
Sagittarius: Comet / They are the fast-moving and adventurous
Capricorn: Asteroid / They are the lone travelers
Aquarius: Nebula / They are the colorful spirits
Pisces: Moon / They are mysterious minds
I’m so fucking tired of people treating cosplayers like trash simply because they buy their outfits because they can’t/don’t have the resources to make them. If they want to buy a fucking cosplay then let them and don’t hate on them because they do so. Don’t act like you’re superior to them because you made yours. Jesus fucking christ why do I even have to say this. It’s ridiculous.
So, like many people, I’m kinda sick of those “Zodiac Sign” posts that simply say what the signs are without explaining or connecting together.
Why is Sardonyx Virgo? Because you said so? I NEED REASONS MAN
*breathes deeply*
Anyway, I do admit I like those kinds of posts when done right, so I’d like to take a crack at it myself if you don’t mind. Also, like most Zodiac stuff, whether you believe in it or not doesn’t really matter. It’s just for fun.
Aries (The Ram)- Ruby
The sign of Aries is incredibly hot-headed, almost to a fault (it’s not called The Ram for nothing, people). Aries is the sign of attachment and determination. People under the sign of Aries are extremely attached to their family and close friends, and have an almost insatiable need to protect and cherish them (even if they can become overbearing in the process). Aries will do what they want, when they want, and they won’t take no for an answer. Passion is the name of the game to Aries, and they make excellent partners that can be trusted to always pull through for you.
Ruby is so like that oh my gosh. As seen in “Keystone Motel”, Ruby literally finds reasons to stay mad at Pearl, and is extremely attached to Sapphire. She becomes emotional when she accidentally hurts Steven’s feelings, and in “Jail Break” she ignores Lapis’ plight in order to track down Sapphire, matching Aries’ traits of blind determination in regards to people close to them.
Taurus (The Bull)- Rose Quartz
The sign of deeper meaning, Taurean people always have backup plans or secrets nobody knows about. They think in a different perspective, so talking to them is almost like talking to a different species. Taureans are nature lovers and tend to be very down-to-Earth people. Taurus also the sign of Earthly pleasure (it is actually the first Earth sign in the Zodiac cycle), and is connected to love and the process of working relationship problems out. Despite all of this, Taureans are great socializers and gain a following of close friends throughout their life.
Rose Quartz fits this because she is taking pleasure in the Earth. As well as this, when Greg tries to talk to her in “We Need To Talk”, she’s very difficult to communicate with due to how different their backgrounds are. Rose, fitting with Taurus, is definitely an Earth and nature lover (she has control over plants for crying out loud), and her sign is known to help smooth over relationship kinks (hi again, “We Need To Talk).
Gemini (The Twins)- Sardonyx
Gemini are the performers of the world. They talk a lot, love to be the center of attention, and have a flair for the dramatic. Stage performing is their bread and better, and Gemini are known to be incredibly good at acting. However, there is a dark side to this sign. Gemini are two-faced and will often use people to achieve their goals (whether or not it’s on purpose), and can even come across as snobbish or hurt people without meaning to. Gemini love words and making them, so expect a Gemini to be well-read and articulated (haha).
Sardonyx fits all of this to a T. Being formed out of deceit (even though Pearl didn’t mean to hurt Garnet) is a staple of this sign. Sardonyx’s loud, flamboyant, and fun personality is also a staple of Gemini, and she even hurt Amethyst’s feelings without meaning to in “A Cry For Help”. She’s incredibly well-versed and it almost seems like she’s rehearsed for her appearance for years (something a Gemini would definitely do), and like a Gemini, the dark side (the Pearl side) of her is very apparent later on.
Cancer (The Crab)- Garnet
Just like its namesake, Cancers are hard on the outside but squishy on the inside. They crave stability, and love to be surrounded by their loved ones/ However, Cancers have problems opening up and can be interpreted as incredibly rude or uncaring to people who don’t understand them. Cancer is the sign of mystery, since you can never really tell what a Cancer is thinking about or feeling. But rest assured, they’re not emotionless (in fact, they’re one of the most emotional signs out there). Cancer is also the sign of motherhood and maternal instincts.
Garnet is made of stability. She’s also incredibly stoic and blunt, which Cancers are. But underneath her hard rock exterior is the super fluffy lovey dovey center of Ruby and Sapphire’s love. In fact, her attitude towards Steven even labels her as a head mom (along with Pearl) in his eyes. People don’t understand Garnet, but that’s okay. She has herself, Steven, Pearl, and Amethyst. And that’s all she really needs. Home is where the heart is, right? Well, like a crab, Garnet carries her home with her. Both inside her (Ruby and Sapphire) and outside her (Steven, Pearl, and Amethyst).
Leo (The Lion)- Lion
Leos are incredibly loyal and helpful, as well as prideful. They are driven by the need to have people to love and protect, and doing so is their utmost duty. Leo is ruled by the Sun, and are difficult to resist (they can be very persuasive). Creative and mysterious, Leos are as strange as they are alluring.
Aside from the fact that Leo literally means “Lion” in Latin, Lion matches up with Leo perfectly. He’s always protecting Steven and was probably left behind by Rose just to protect him. His persuasive abilities are amplified by him being a cute cat, and Steven can’t resist letting him back in the house after almost suffocating under his mane in “Lion 3: Direct to Video”.
Virgo (The Maiden)- Pearl
Neurotic and fastidously clean,Virgo is the sign of consensual servitude. Virgos are the most intellectual of the signs, Virgos are masters of critical thinking. However, they need to feel needed and wanted in a relationship, but have difficulty actually saying the words “I Love You”. Because of this, Virgos often have multiple stable platonic relationships rather than one core relationship. Virgos love to serve and do things for their friends and family, as it enhances both their critical thinking and the feeling of being wanted and appreciated. Virgos are excellent advisers, but are weak when it comes to base pleasures such as food or sex.
Pearl, Pearl, Pearl. If there was ever a Virgo in this show, it’s you. Desperate to feel wanted by Rose, Pearl consistently shot down Greg. But Pearl could never really tell Rose “I Love You”. She even has multiple stable relationships (all of her fusions are on the humanoid end of the spectrum, like Opal and Rainbow Quartz), and advises the Crystal Gems on multiple courses of action. As shown in “A Cry For Help”, Pearl is definitely weak to base pleasures, deceiving Garnet in order to keep forming Sardonyx. However, she remains the intellectual core of the group and strives to maintain order in both her family and the house.
Libra (The Scales)- Opal
Made of balance and compromise, Libra is the sign of partnership. Mutual agreement is key for this sign, and injustice is not tolerated. Working in teams is where this sign excels at, and they can become fascinated by the concept of equilibrium. Cooperation and negotiation come to this sign naturally, and they are often enthralled by serene grace and natural beauty. However, Libra’s two main flaws are that they have difficulty making snap decisions or remembering important details.
No, Opal isn’t Sagittarius (I know, I was disappointing too), but rather a symbol of Amethyst and Pearl’s cooperation. As a creature formed of compromise, Opal hits almost all of the Libra nails on the head. Even her inability to remember the Heaven Beetle at the end of “Giant Woman” fits with the sign, and Pearl and Amethyst’s arguing over what to do split her up (just like her sign, she’s unable to make snap decision’s without de-fusing). And I think we can all agree that Opal is definitely full of serene grace and natural beauty.
Scorpio (The Scorpion)- Amethyst
Scorpio’s modus operandi is their inability to keep any of their feelings a secret. They will literally broadcast what they’re feeling if it means someone will listen to them and affirm their emotions. A sign of hidden depths, this emotional facade hides an even deeper sense of not belonging. Scorpio’s excel at keeping any secrets they are told (but are not so good at keeping their own), and when pushed to the edge they can explode spectacularly. Scorpio is ruled by Pluto, the planet of death and reformation.
Amethyst’s main facet of personality is her emotional spontaneity. She is very loud and vocal, but on the inside this is all to make people adulate her and love her. She even has Scorpio’s secret keeping ability: In “A Cry For Help”, she holds back telling Garnet exactly what Pearl’s been doing in the hopes Pearl will say it herself. And she along with Pluto are indicative of reforming: She’s been poofed and reformed the most of any Gems seen so far. And do I even need to note her emotional breakdown in “On The Run” at the Kindergarten? Amethyst matches Scorpio pretty well in that department, too.
Sagittarius (The Archer)- Lapis Lazuli
The sign of freedom and journeys, the Archer wants nothing more than to make their own choices and go where they want. Sagittarius can be socially thoughtless and aggressive sometimes in order to simply get people out of their way so they can enjoy what they want to do. They love to laugh and make jokes, but being held in a prison or restraint is their biggest nightmare. Sagittarius is often considered the happiest sign in the Zodiac.
My blue baby is definitely a Sagittarius. Lapis just wants to be free, and do what she wants. When Steven interacts with her in the mirror, she’s shown to be very humorous and fun-loving. But years of torture and the changing of her Homeworld has left the originally happy and optimistic Lapis broken and saddened. Lapis is tactless in combat, simply throwing everything at the Gems in “Ocean Gem” because she wanted them to go away. Ironically, Lapis has spent most of the show trapped in a personal hell (both in the mirror and in Malachite), making her perceived personality a sick joke in juxtaposition to what’s happening to her.
Capricorn (The Sea Goat)- Sapphire
Cool and collected, Capricorn is the sign of calm and patience. The most serious sign of the Zodiac, Capricorn pride themselves on being cool and collected at all times. This can make them seem emotionally distant, but be assured that they feel just as much as everyone else does. They’re just very good at controlling their emotions and not telegraphing their thoughts. A flaw with Capricorns is that they think they have all the answers, when really there is no answer. Capricorns are very serious love partners, and will stay committed always. Outburst of emotion are rare but not unprecedented: Capricorns can bottle their emotions for so long that the pressure can really get to them.
Sapphire is literally cool-headed, first of all, and is emotional distant even to her lover Ruby. Sapphire continually uses her Future Vision in “Keystone Motel” to reassure herself that things were going to be okay, but that turned out to be inadequate for the situation. She finally begins to show emotion when she realizes that she hurt Steven, and then it all came tumbling out. Sapphire is the poster child for Capricorn: Emotionally distant but prone to let it all out when it all gets to her.
Aquarius (The Water Bearer)- Peridot
The thinkers and scientists are born under this sign. Aquarius strive to make new things, better things, bigger things! Fusion things! But really, Aquarius can be a serious threat to anyone not ready to match their mental output. They can be cold and unfeeling to anyone they deem below them, but in reality they are afraid of intimacy since they view that as weakness. Bored with the mundane, Aquarius will always think out of the box to shock, befuddle, dazzle, and horrify their friends and enemies.
Peridot, being a Gem scientist, is pretty much an Aquarius on the most base level or reality. She always speaks in a bored tone and has no qualms with crushing those beneath her (sometimes literally. R.I.P plug robonoid from “Warp Tour”). She has no issues with forgoing ethics and reason if it means furthering her cause (hi, Cluster. Didn’t see you there). But Peridot might have a soft side that will be show eventually, since Aquarius tend to have one thing they pride above all others: Family.
Pisces (The Fishes)- Steven Universe
The sign of hopeful optimism, Pisces will give everything up if it means making just one person happy. Hopeless romantics is what they are, and they will always seek to shield everyone from harm, not just their friends and family.Constantly dreaming and happy, and generally a blast to be around, Pisces the Fishes are literally tied together by the tail so they don’t float away in their own dreams.
Steven is the most optimistic, sweet, and helpful character in the show. His naivety is not his weakness, though: It’s his strength. Much like real Pisces, he surrounds himself with friends and allies simply by how nice he is. He can mend any problems with his social group and serves as the moral center of the Crystal Gem. His weapon is even a shield, just to drive the point home.
Mercury- The hottest planet Venus- The beautiful planet Earth- The living planet Mars- The red planet Jupiter- The giant planet Saturn- The planet with a ring Uranus- The ice giant planet Neptune- The blue planet PLUTO- THE PLANET WITH A HEART!
If you polled people on marine life they thought was cute, sea slugs would probably rate somewhere near the bottom if they made the list at all. That’s a shame, though, as the amusingly named nudibranch group is full of vivid color, out-there shapes, and even downright adorableness.
But maybe the sea slug’s image is about to change because the Japanese Net, purveyors of all things cute, have just discovered Jorunna parva, the fluffy little bunnies of the sea. The Japanese name for Jorunna parva is gomafu biroodo umiushi, which loosely translates to black speckled velvet sea slug.
And if you think those pictures of the Pacific sea slug are cute, check out the little fluff-ball in very slow action, captured on film by a diver off Shizuoka Prefecture.
