Man marries video game character

By Nicole Navarro

It looked like a traditional wedding. Friends and family attended, speeches were given and a slideshow of the bride and groom played. But the “I do’s” were far from traditional.

The groom, referring to himself by only his username Sal9000, married Nene AnegasakiMan , a character who lives in the Nintendo DS video game Love Plus.

The popular dating simulation game requires players to choose from one of three female characters to be their girlfriend. Gamers then strive for their virtual girlfriend’s affections by whispering “sweet nothings” into the Nintendo DS microphone, taking her on virtual dates and even kissing her by literally kissing their Nintendo DS screen. After spending time building a virtual relationship, Sal9000 decided he wanted to marry his digital girlfriend, in real life.

Appropriately taking place at the Tokyo Institute of Technology in Japan, the ceremony included both a DJ and a real priest. Some 3,000 viewers tuned in to see the nuptials broadcast live on the Japanese video sharing site Nico Nico Douga. Later, a video of the wedding posted on YouTube garnered another 1,786,000 hits.

Mall steals shirts to suppress speech

By Corey Friedman

A suburban Dallas mall trampled a T-shirt vendor’s free speech rights when it seized shirts that bore an unflattering depiction of a crime-plagued city neighborhood.

Courtesy Dallas Morning News

The shirts show a silhouetted figure stuffing a body into a car trunk above the message, “Welcome to Pleasant Grove.” Management and security guards at the Town East Mall in Mesquite, Texas, surrounded the kiosk and took the shirts Thursday, the Dallas Morning News reported.

Local business executives and chamber of commerce members took umbrage at the tees, which they say perpetuates negative stereotypes about the neighborhood. The newspaper descrbed Pleasant Grove as a blue-collar community in southeast Dallas.

Mall officials had previously warned the kiosk to stop selling the shirts. The confiscated clothing was brought to the local chamber of commerce, where business leaders gloated openly about suppressing the shirtmakers’ message.

Smoking update

Smokers at Craven Community College can once again light up…for now.

The CCC Board of Trustees voted to gave President Catherine Chew the authority to designate one smoking area for each campus, according to Sandy Wall, the college’s public information officer.

The lone “smoking hut” on the New Bern campus sits between two buildings at the back of campus in a dark, partially wooded area. Some students have expressed concern about safety at night.

Wall told the Independent Register that the policy will be sent back to the facilities committee, which will make a recommendation to the board on Jan. 19.

Several staff and faculty members as well as students have told the I.R. that they did not support the tobacco ban which went into effect Aug. 19. Most of the dissenters we spoke with were non-smokers.

One source told the I.R. that barriers were put up along the roadside to keep smoking students away. We were also told that students had ventured across the road near the parking lot of a nearby law office.

Maybe the board will see the error of its nearsightedness next month.

CCC may alter smoking ban

By William R. Toler

Nearly one semester after a campus-wide smoking ban, the Board of Trustees at Craven Community College may soon be changing its tobacco-free policy, according to several local news sources. Both the New Bern Sun Journal and NewsChannel 12 reported Monday that the college is receiving complaints and concerns from nearby residents about the displaced smokers’ new hangouts.

CCC spokesman Sandy Wall told the Sun Journal that students are gathering along a nearby public road and even hiking into the woods to light up. “It’s creating a hazard or [sic] them and for motorists.”

Mall Santa snapshots lead to arrest

By Corey Friedman

Maybe R.C. Basford’s just camera-shy. Perhaps he’s an adherent of some obscure aboriginal faith that teaches that a snapshot snatches away the soul.

Either would be preferable to the more likely alternative — that Basford is a bully who doesn’t think the law he’s sworn to enforce applies to him personally.

A Charleston, W.Va. police officer, Basford arrested a professional photographer who tried to take his picture inside a mall Tuesday, according to the Charleston Gazette. Scott Rensberger had previously been seen snapping photos of children with Santa Claus.

Parents approached Rensberger and expressed concern that he had taken pictures of their children. As a courtesy, Rensberger deleted the images, but Basford later approached him and asked why he’d photographed the kids.

“I can’t believe you are asking me that,” Rensberger said to Basford. “Do you mind if I take a picture of you?”

Getting serious: Q&A with a Libertarian

By Richard C. Evey
Libertarian/Patriot

A challenge was made on a number of questions on the subject of Libertarians getting serious, and I would like to rant. Correction: I am going to rant.

There will always be government, so how do we improve it?

We make it smaller. We make it accountable. The United States government is mandated to do only four things, according to the U.S. Constitution. State government is mandated to do what? Maybe build highways. County government: Enforce just laws, keep order and maybe run schools. City government: Enforce just laws and keep order.

I am not sure who said it: “The government that governs less governs best.” Government must be reminded that they work for “We the People“!