Jack Durango

Holy shit, this is like warfare. Gathering intel on what opposing forces are planning, discussing evasive and assertive action maneuvers... People will be people, animals will be human.

Well, Rainbow Dash did mention, in the 'Find A Pet' episode, that she needed a pet "real fast like a bullet" to keep up with her. She also named the tortoise who became her pet "Tank." So, unless "bullet" and "tank" have different meanings/connotations in the FiM universe, they must have some concept of these artifacts of war. The previous two posts pretty much sum up where technology and transportation stands at the point in time the ponies are living in, although I believe the history of invention and manufacturing in Friendship is Magic is based on necessity of adaptation. That is to say, certain inventions, such as trains, telescopes, and printing presses, were invented at the times they would have been of greatest use or profit. This isn't too different from mankind, but ponies do not live in a world driven by manufacturing-based competition. We see that they use modern tech alongside older tech, such as flashlights alongside oil lamps. This shows that the ponies are not quick to discard technology simply because quicker or more advanced equipment has come into existence. They also seem to adapt their environment somewhat to their own needs, such as building houses and creating plumbing, but they do not overdo it and do not face problems of urban sprawl or overpopulation such as man (as far as we can see). This demonstrates a close, harmonic relationship with nature and a peaceful acceptance of manual labor. They are probably driven by the mindset that if every pony helps pitch in, society will be productive, peaceful, and accommodating.

I'VE GOT MY OWN RELIGION. I'M GOD. ANY QUESTIONS? Haruhiism is based on the belief that the titular character of The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya (pictured above, staring at you) is basically God based on the fact that, in the show, she controls everything that exists in the universe, even though she doesn't know it. Oh, Japan. It's not official, but it could be taken officially. I think I'd rather put my faith in ponies than in Haruhi. But my point is, a religion can be based on anything. A good idea cannot.

Oh, you asked for it. Full-blown story time, right here, sit down and listen up. Alright, here goes: I hadn't known My Little Pony was such a big deal on the internet until about late January this year. I can't remember what it was I was looking up, probably something to do with anime (that was what I was all hyped up about from May 2011 to the end of January this year...and actually, I still like it, I just haven't watched it nearly as much since getting into MLP.) Anyways, anime=animation, and YouTube, with its clever cookies watching our every move, put two and two together, and a link to what I think was Rainbow Dash going "AAAAW YEAH!" appeared in the Recommendations bar. I don't remember exactly, but, from foggy memory and basic knowledge, it was probably a kyrospawn video. And I'm not even sure if it was Rainbow Dash going "AAAAW YEAH!", but I think it was, IT WAS A CLIP OF SOME PONY SAYING SOMETHING OKAY. So I click it, it's 3-4 seconds, nothing too impressive, but what is surprising...is the number of related videos that spring up in the Recommendations bar. They were all clearly My Little Pony, they were all clearly from the same show, and I'm just like "...WHY are there so many goddamn videos related to My Little Pony?" I go from one video to the next, on a YouTube clicking spree (you know what I mean--where you're just watching whatever with no particular video in mind). 'Twilight Sparkle - HELP, YOU NEED HELP!', 'Applejack - Well, okay then'. At first I thought it was just little girls, moms or ladies who played with My Little Pony when they were younger who uploaded and watched these videos. I scanned the comments quickly. Pretty enthusiastic for just girls and ladies. I thought, "This might actually have a fandom to it." (It was in late 2010 that I discovered fandoms and fanfiction and became a true member of the Internet.) I come across a video entitled 'Rainbow Dash: SHUT UP' and that's when I go, "Okay, obviously people who know this show is meant for little girls are watching it and making parodies of it." Meant for little girls... Heh-heh... I pull up a tab and search Google with the phrase 'why is my little pony so popular all of a sudden'. And what's one of the the first words I see? Brony. Didn't take me five seconds to figure out what two words that term combined. Needless to say, I was kind of surprised. "My Little Pony? Really? Those clips I'm watching? Come from a show that's considered ENTERTAINING? What?! ...Well, I've seen stranger." So I soon come across this video: And...and it's the funniest thing I'd seen in a while. I was seriously cracking up. It was over the next few days that I started actually seeing My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic-related images and macros coming up in unrelated Google Images searches, and as avatars for forum members. So, on a Friday, when two of my friends came to my house for Xbox gaming and a sleepover, I showed that censor bleeps video and its part 2 sequel to them on the older friend's laptop. It's stupidly funny to us all. I tell them that apparently it's a current internet craze. and that there are guys like us and older who watch the show called 'bronies'. The older friend gets on his laptop and starts looking for an answer to this madness. As he is doing so, he starts noticing all these pony avatars in the random forums he is perusing: "Oh my God, Robby, there's another one!" I lean over, "What, seriously?" It's funny, but we don't think too much of it. The sleepover lasts well into 4:00 AM before we decide to hit the hay. They leave the next morning, and the weekend is pretty uneventful. And then, the following school week. One morning, I wake up really early, take a shower, and decide to sit down and watch TV before eating breakfast. As I scroll through the channels, I see it. My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic. Right there, only on the Hub. I remember that day, coming home on 10/10/10. Wasn't anything special; in fact, I remember having to go sit down and do homework instantly. I didn't even know that's when the Hub broadcasted. All I knew, was that it was a channel meant for little kids. I think...I think, after what hype I had seen over the show, I actually wanted to see it for myself. Just so I could know. The episode starts, the characters are quirky, funny, and not overbearing, all is well. Then suddenly the opening sequence starts up: "My Little Pony, My Little Pony, Ah-ah-ah-ah..." And I barely had time to think "Oh God what am I about to-" before I was snagged by the clutches of awesome. Maybe awesome isn't the right word, but, well, you remember that feeling? That feeling you got when you realized "I am here, watching My Little Pony, and somehow I am doing it on purpose, and it's not that bad"? Yeah, that feeling. So, as far as what episode it was? Lesson Zero. I will NEVER forget sitting there, in the dark, 5:30 AM, rest of the family is sleeping, and I am just sitting on an electronic recliner chair in a pair of shorts and T-shirt, staring as I watch this purple cartoon unicorn named Twilight Sparkle FLIP THE FUCK OUT. I was a little startled but grinning like a madman when it was over. And I said, "Oh, God...I'm a brony." And from that point on, you know how the story goes. Watched all the episodes on YouTube, looked at meme and macro over and over, committed the character names to memory, et cetera et cetera. So, to make a long story short, Lesson Zero is what got me hooked, though to be honest I'm sure I would've wound up watching it regardless of what episode. MOAR. PONIES.

This episode was *east coast accent* DA BOMB. Seriously, a solid episode. Apple Bloom in a sailor outfit? Check. Sweetie Belle is golden, and finally shows a hint of magic power? Check. Hover-Scootaloo with derp eyes? Check. And cracktastic dialogue all the way through! In fact, there were several instances of derp eyes. I didn't see Derpy, though; I'll have to go back and check... The song was terrific, and the animation sequence that went with it was perfect (especially liked the singing concession stand food reference. "Let's all go to the lob- HOLY SH*SQUEE*" as Babs procedes to eat them.) I feel this episode has the potential spawn a lot of mini-memes among the brony community. I currently await a repeating cycle GIF of the Cutie Mark Crusaders running, as they were doing so to catch up with the rigged float. And yes, Pinkie Salad. Sprinkled with pun. Enjoy.

Scream in agony as the painful process of matter distribution and sphagettification compresses me to the width of a pixel as is presented two-dimensionally on any output electronic display device. But, y'know, after that it's a pretty sweet life.

Hmmm... Oh!So I was super-excitedly watching 'A Canterlot Wedding' on its broadcast date. Big event, and all. But as I sat watching through the beginning of Part 2, my older brother comes in, sees me watching it, and decides to plop himself down on the couch and watch it with me. (He knows about the MLP phenomenon but doesn't much care for it- he's a furry, I believe.) So at first, he asks the question "God, why is this show so addicting?!" and I give him the standard "superb animation, excellent voice acting, marvelously written plot, etc." answer. We continue to watch to the end, and he makes several comments as the storyline goes along, like when Queen Chrysalis reveals herself he says "This show is NOT for children." Finally, we get to the part where Cadence and Shining Armor unite their horns in love, and of all things he says "Touch tips!" This threw me off. Lol, certainly a memorable day. Just not sure if that's the way I'd want to remember it :PBut perhaps the most awkward moment was when my dad saw me watching a rerun of 'Hearts and Hooves Day'. It went something like this: