RF: I've tried getting my parents to appreciate anime, but they can't get past the language, which is strange to a newcomer. For the most part, I decorate my room with anime material everywhere, on the walls, on shelves, displayed on my desk, and they don't say much of anything other than to make my bed every morning. I'd like my parents to be into the same things I'm into, but I doubt that will happen. For them, animation is cartoons, and cartoons are for kids.

RF: My most prized possession is most likely the Japanese sword my grandfather is currently holding for me. It's not a mass produced one like they make today, but something I would estimate to be about 200 to 400 years old, maybe older if it had been kept in a less than optimal location where it could rust more quickly. I took it home and studied it, took it completely apart, checked the kanji on the tang of the blade (which I could decipher simply because it's like trying to read someone else's bad hand writing in another language), looked and identified all the features of the blade, the age and type of furniture that it was placed in. What I came up with was that the furniture was standard World War II issue. It was in pretty condition, with the saya (scabbard) cracking and the ito (braid) starting to wear away and tear. Plus, the original peg was gone, replaced with a metal screw. I bet some Marine killed a Japanese officer during WWII and took his sword, probably keeping it in his garage/basement/attic for sometime, maybe taking it out to chop a watermelon in half or something. It probably got sold several times along the way, until my grandfather could pick it up at the flea market for $50. When I finally get it, I plan on getting the blade refinished and buying all new furniture for it, maybe in pieces one at a time until I can reassemble the entire thing and display it proudly somewhere in my room. It's a great item with who knows how much history to it. It's a true symbol of the Japanese culture, and something I know they have great respect for because it's such a part of their history.

RF: I've been into computers for at least ten years, so along with anime otaku I can also say I'm a computer otaku. I built the system I'm currently using right now. Other than anime and computers, I'm also a big weapons nut. Since I served in the military, I know all about the M16A2 and all the machineguns I've fired. Anytime I watch a movie and I see a gun, I immediately identify it. The same goes in anime. Rally Vincent from "Gun Smith Cats" uses a Czech CZ-75 9mm pistol. Should I have enough money just lying around somewhere, I plan on buying a M15A2 (civilian model of the M16A2) in .223 Remington caliber and going down to the range to do some shooting, see if I can still do as well as I did in boot camp.