Despite a slim delegate leads that have changed hands from Clinton to Obama over the past several months, the nomination of a Democratic candidate is essentially at a stalemate. There are those who would say that you should simply be a rubber stamp, that you should vote along with the way that the majority/plurality of the people from the state you represent. But then what would be the purpose of having superdelegates at all? Why wouldn't there be a direct election count process like the Republican Party has?

The reason is exactly for times like this. When there is a 51/49, or even a 53/47 split in the popular vote, is this truly a mandate? Can we assume that the person that can only gather 53% of the Democratic vote is really the one who stands the best chance of defeating Senator McCain in the general election? More importantly, will the euphoria over an extremely articulate, yet untested and largely unknown quantity in March really be able to withstand the onslaught of attacks that will surely take place over the next eight months?

The current slim lead in delegates that Senator Obama is thought to hold over Senator Clinton is not a clear mandate! The popular vote alone will not be enough to determine a definitive candidate. And so, superdelegates, your job is not to follow along like cattle led to the slaughter. Your job is to look over the terrain that lies ahead and, now that the fog is lifting, determine the path that is the best option for returning a Democrat to the White House.

(Be warned sailor...there be spoilers ahead!)

The movie starts off fast, with Mamatchi finishing off his new invention. At the same time in another world, Tampopo is off to deliver a forgotten item to her mother. Both are about to become an older sibling, and both are wondering if they can handle the responsibilities.

Memetchi and Kuchipatchi arrive at Mametchi's house just in time to see Mametchi try out his new "Forwarding Machine" for the first time (the reason he invented this will become clear later). In the 60 seconds between activation and the start of "forwarding", several unlikely yet hilarious events (involving Kutchpatchi, of course) result in the aim of the Forwarding Machine to go off course, and Tampopo is brought into the Tamagotchi world. After everyone gets over the should of the situation, she is thrilled to see her favorite tamagotchis in person, but soon realizes that cannot get home. Fortunately, Mamechi's papa, mama, and their egg come in, and Papa Mametchi explains that they will invent a rocket and a way to send her back at the exact time she left. Relieved, Tampopo looks forward to the time she will spend living with Mametchi in Tamagotchi world until she can return home. The next day Tampopo gets a thrilling tour of Tamatown, which is bustling with preparations for the King's birthday.

Tampopo goes to Tama School to learn with the others (she sits next to Kuchipatchi). During the science class, an explosion plunges the room into smoke and darkness. Everyone is fine, but Mametchi crouches on the floor in terror. Later while eating with Tampopo, Memetchi, and Kuchipatchi, Mametchi explains that since he was a small child who was once trapped in a dark place, he has been afraid of the dark. He tried many ways to get over his fear, but could not, and he fears he will be an embarassment to his little brother or sister. So he built the Forwarding Machine to bring himself his own private sun to follow him and give him light. The others are sympathetic, and Mametchi vows to begin experiements to make a little sun for himself.

One day, Papa and Mama go out, and Mametchi and Tampopo stay home to watch the egg (but not before giving Tampopo the "kizuna no kagi", a key that will take her back to the time when she was forwarded to Tamagotchi land...all she needs now is the rocket, which is still being built) Though several unlikely yet hilarious events, the egg bounds out the window, rolls down the street, and eventually falls into some ballons that end UP caught on the top of a very high building. Repotchi breaks the story on live TV, and soon all of Tamagotchiland is watching Mametchi try to save the egg. Mametchi catches the egg, but falls off the building. Tampopo catches Mametchi, but they both fall. Memetchi throughs a rope to stop their fall, but she falls as well. Fortunately, KuroMametchi is watching and, through an ingenious use of Kuchipatchi, everyone is saved. The parents are not angry, as Mametchi took responsibility and did what it took to save the egg...which soon hatched into Mametchi's sister, Chamametchi.

A montage of events follow, as Mametchi grows to a kindergarden age tamagotchi while Mametchi finally succeeds in creating "Mametaiouchi", a little sun that will follow Mametchi everyone and always provide him with light. But just as this happened, the real Taiouchi (Tamagotchi land's sun) was flying overhead...

Later, Papa Mametchi says that the rocket was finished, and hands Tampopo an instruction manual. So the time for Tampopo to leave will come soon.

The next morning, it was dark outside. Taiouchi was nowhere to be found, and thus Tamagotchi World had no light from it's sun. Mametchi and the others found this odd, but went to school anyway. Somehow Chamametchi followed Mametchi to school, and after a short argument Mametchi agreed to let her come for the day. During more preparations, the Tamagotchi's were violently thrown into the air and heard a strange sound. It was soon discovered that Tamagotchi World had caught a cold. Mametchi ran to the Mame Invention Center to try to help, and overheard Mimizu kocho explaining that Taiouchi had left a note that said "I heard that Mametchi has finally succeeded in eventing a new sun. So I am going away. Goodbye." Mametchi is crushed, thinking that all of the current problems are his fault, and goes to bed without talking to anybody.

When Mametchi and Tampopo ran to the Mame Invention Center, Mametchi said he wanted Tampopo to stay until she could see the birthday celebrations for the King.

Mametchi spent some time brooding in his bed...until finally coming to a decision. He snuck out of the house by himself and went to the completed rocket. He tried to launch it himself, but without the manual he couldn't figure out how. Suddenly, Tampopo, Memetchi, and Kuchipatchi appeared. They all knew that Mametchi was thinking of going to search for Taiouchi and wanted to help. With the manual that Tampopo brought, they were about to take off...but just before the countdown ended, Chamametchi boarded the rocket, and they had no choice but to take her with them.

From above Tamagotchi World, they could see a slightly different sight: instead of drool coming from it's mouth, there was water running out of Tamagotchi World's nose. Suddenly, Papa Mametchi and the other scientists appeared on the video screen and demanded that they return. But when Mametchi tells Papa about how he knew that Taiouchi leaving was his fault, how Papa was not angry about the egg incident because of Mametchi taking responsibility, and that he's doing the same here, Papa Mametchi reluctantlly agrees. But Papa Mametchi also tells Mametchi that the scientists had worked all ngiht developing medicine for Tamagotchi World, and had mounted it on top of the rocket. They have only one medicine capsule, and only one chance of administering it to Tamagotchi World. Mametchi says he will push the button to launch the medicine...but as he's about to do so, Chamametchi jumps into his lap, and the medicine is shot well below it's mouth. All appears to be lost for the tamagotchis, but as luck would have it, the gob of runny nose liquid dips down low enough for the medicine to get stuck to the very bottom, and Tamagotchi World sucks it all up into his nose, and the medicine is somehow successfully administered.

At this point, Mametchi is about to go in search of Taiouchi...but while the medicine is doing its work inside of Tamagotchi World, it's nose gets tickled, and it lets out a mighty sneeze that sends the rocket far, far away, and outside of radio contact with the Tamagotchi World. Mametchi finally reaches the breaking point and rails against Chamaetchi, yelling at her to be quiet, and that she is to blame for always following him around and not listening to him. Tampopo tells Mametchi he said too much, and takes Chamatechi into another room to comfort her. Meanwhile, Memetchi and Kuchipatchi are actually relieved, because they were worried that Mametchi and Chamametchi had not been fighting, that it was natural for siblings to get on each others nerves, but that they were family, would eventually make up, and their bond would be stronger as a result.

Mametchi and the others join Tampopo and Chamametchi for several minutes of heartwarming bonding, where Mametchi and Chamametchi make up, and Tampopo now knows what's in store for her when her younger sibling is born and is no longer afraid of that responsibility. But the bonding comes to an abrupt end by the violent shaking of the ship, and they return to the command center to find that there are all sorts of objects flying towards them, and that they are drifting towards Mametchi's worst nightmare...a BLACK HOLE! Will they get away, will they save Tamagotchi World, and will Tampopo return to her world!?

Mametchi attempted to fire the retro rockets, but they could not escape the pull of the black hole. Suddenly, communications with the Mame Invention Center was restored, and they were also with many of Mametchi, Memetchi, and Kuchipatchi's family and friends. Mametchi explained that they were being pulled towards a black hole...but one of the scientists looked and realized that that was not a black hole...it was Blackholechi! Blackholechi was sleeping, and sucking in everything around him, and they realized that the only way to save themselves was to wake him up. Mametchi activated the loudspeaker and every on the ship screamed out to try and awaken Blackholetchi...but a meteroid slammed into the ship and blocked up the hole so that no sound could come out. In desperation, Mametchi and Tampopo put on spacesuits to go out and try to dislodge the meteroid, and Mametchi left his Mametaiouchi behind to provide light and watch over the others. Tampopo and Mametchi were successful in dislodging the meteroid, but another hit saw Mametchi get sent flying away from the ship. Tampopo jumped off and caught Mametchi just as Mametchi's tether broke, but Tampopo and Mametchi were still in a very perilous situation.

With the meteroid dislodged, Memetchi, Kuchipatchi, and Chamametchi started shouting at Blackholechi again. Soon all of the people in the Mame Invention Center joined in, and the calls started spreading throughout Tamagotchi World (this is where most of the bit Tamagotchi characters such as Nonbiritchi and Kirinchi make their cameo appearances) Up to this point Mametchi himself has been paralyzed by fear, but at the pleading of Tampopo, he is finally able to overcome his fear of the dark, and joins in the call to awaken Blackholechi. However, Tampopo's tether also breaks, and Tampopo and Mametchi are sucked inside of Blackholechi.

After several seconds of everyone registering the shock, Chamametchi starts screaming for Blackholechi to wake up once more, and soon all of Tamagotchi World has joined in the call of "WAKE UP BLACKHOLECHI!", to the point where Tamagotchi World himself makes a loud cry. This finally reaches Blackholechi, who finally awakes from his slumber with a deadpan response "That was a good rest!" At that point we hear Mametchi calling out from within Blackholechi, and the universe's largest tamagotchi apologizes and returns them to the ship.

Just when all appears to have been resolved, communications are once again cut off, and a bright light appears in the cabin. From back in the Mame Invention Center, they note that the rocket has used up all of its power, and thus has no way of returning to Tamagotchi World. Everyone starts crying, but suddenly Mametchi's voice is heard announcing that they have returned! The light that had entered their cabin was that of the returning Taiouchi, who brought them all back to Tamagotchi World (Taiouchi later explained that the real reason he left was to go on a hot springs tour, adding "isn't my skin smooth now?"), and finally everyone is able to rejoice once more.

The celebration for the King's birthday can now begin, and a spectacular parade through TamaTown is shown. But midway through, Papa Mametchi finds Tampopo and tells her that, while the rocket will require a lot more time and repairs to get ready, Cometchi is about to fly by Tamagotchi World is willing to take Tampopo back to Earth. Hastily Tampopo, Mametchi and his family, Memetchi, and Kuchipatchi go to the meadow to meet Cometchi. Tampopo finally opens up the bag that she was supposed to be taking to her mother, and sees it is the dress that she had worn when she was a newborn. Chamametchi cries that she doesn't want Tampopo to go, and a tearful farewell is had by all, with the Tamagotchis promising to never forget her.

Tampopo is back at her desk in her room, at just before the time she was forwarded to Tamagotchi World. She wonders if it was all a dream until she sees the "Kizuna no kagi" key that they had made for her. Just then her mother calls, and Tampopo tells her she's about to deliver her bag.

Since Pepsi NEX came out, Pepsi Japan has dominated the diet cola drink market in Japan, as Diet Coke is the same awful concoction as it has been for decades now (for a brief time they did have a superior drink in Coca Cola Light, but it was quickly taken off the market due to concerns that it might "dissolve bones") But Coca-Cola has had a secret weapon in waiting for years now...Coca Cola Zero.

In America, Coca Cola Zero is a delicious drink that is so similar in taste to regular Coke that they run commercials of Coke suing itself over copyright infringement. And indeed, when I went back to America last year, I was very impressed with it's Coke-like taste despite its lack of calories. So of course, I was thrilled when I heard that Coca Cola Zero was finally making its way to Japan, where I could once again consume it on a daily basis. So imagine my shock when I rush to buy it on the first day of its release, and the taste that hits my tongue is...Diet Coke! In the words of millions (and millions!) of trail blazing internet bloggers, "WTF!??" It turns out that they didn't bring in the real Coca Cola Zero at all...they simply separated "Diet Coke" into two products: "No Calorie Diet Coke' in cute silver and red packaging designed to appeal to women, and "Coca Cola Zero", in bold black packaging marketed to men.

So...not only has Coca Cola Japan had the brilliant idea of taking the same freaking product and separating into gender-based brands, but they do it by trampling on the goodwill built UP with their Coca Cola brand in another country. Imagine McDonalds renaming The Big Mac as the same product with two names: Feminine Hamburger and Double Quarter Pounder With Cheese. Ludicrous! Yet Coca Cola Japan apparently feels fine with putting different colored labels on its swill and calling one of them Perrier! Un-freakin-believable!

Just to have some actually comment here, I've heard a lot about Michael Moore's new "documentary" Sicko From what I could see of this movie when it was still available on YouTube, he's pretty much right in his claim that Americans put up with a much crappier system than most of the world has to offer. I've noticed that much of the criticism of this film is regarding his proposed solutions; how Canada, Great Britain and France's health care system is not the utopia it is presented as, and how the care received in Cuba is nowhere close to what an average Cuban actual receives. But no review I've read about has been able to refute just how sick and unfair the American Health Care "system" (if it's fair to the anarchy that passes for health care a "system") actually is, which is the main point of the movie. If we're not asking our police and fire departments to turn a profit, doesn't it seem ludicrous that we're playing nickel-and-dime games with people's health?

Anyway, I went onto YouTube in the hopes of finding some old videos of the place when it was still in operation. But instead, I found something even more interesting: a video taken just last October of the "ruins" of Namegawa Island, that serves as a sad reminder of the things we lose forever to the sands of time. I love the theme music for this movie as well; anyone have some advice on how I can rip that onto an MP3 that I can keep on my iPod?

UPDATE: Was able to find a brochure picture of the Namegawa Hotel. Looks very pretty tucked inside the mountain like that.

Well, I guess I should say a little bit more, since such a small amount of text doesn't look good on this site. Was back in Michigan for the holidays, flew back to Japan for a day, then flew back to Chicago for two weeks of business meetings, with a one day side trip to Wisconsin sandwiched in for kicks. A little over a month and 25,000 miles later, I'm getting settled into the old grind once more...with a new appreciation for all that Japan has to offer...and a new resentment for all that Japan has to offer.

Hopefully, I will show vast improvement over the next two weeks. If you enjoy sumo, or are even just a little bit curious, please give it a listen!

Take for example, chickens. What about chickens? Went to Popeyes Chicken on the base. Of course, the Naval Base imports all of its food from America, so this place serves up American chickens. We do have KFC in Japan, but the size of the chickens in America are almost beyond compare. A Japanese breast has about as much meat as an American wing, and to my "life in Japan" accustomed eyes, an American breast looks a complete meal in itself.

When trying to find more information, I found the Naval Base event list. Now I know that I am missing out on even more great stuff, like a sumo wrestler greeting session and Superstars of Wrestling!