Happy Day of the Ninja!

From the website:

Prepare for the Annual Day of the Ninja. Forget 'Talk Like a Pirate' Day. This will truly be our chance to show the world what ninja are made of.

Every year, December 5th is the Day of the Ninja. Plague your co-workers with ninja-ness and wear a ninja mask to work! Got the day off? Run wild in the streets, or dress like a ninja at the mall! Just show the world that YOU ARE NINJA!

More details here.

Those Darn Ninjas . . .

Just when you think you're safe from ninjas - that's when they strike.

NYC's 'Ninja Bandit' Blamed For 19th Burglary

STATEN ISLAND (AP) ― Staten Island's costumed crook known as the Ninja Bandit has apparently struck for the 19th time.

In the latest incident, a family on Melhorn Road in the Castleton Corners neighborhood reported that the thief stole more than $100,000 worth of jewelry.

"The M.O. fits the pattern" of the 18 earlier Ninja heists, said Officer Martin Speechley, a police spokesman.

The burglary took place between Wednesday and Friday of last week, Speechley said. A sliding glass door was left open, indicating that the thief exited through it and may have entered through it, he said.

The victim, Dr. Shahabuddin Ahmad, told the Staten Island Advance that the home has an alarm system but it did not go off.

Ninjas laugh at your alarms.

The Ninja Bandit got his nickname after an earlier victim said the intruder wielded a set of nunchucks when they scuffled in the homeowner's kitchen in September. Other residents have also said they encountered the burglar, but the suspect has managed to escape each time.

Up until last week, the most recent attack was Nov. 24 or 25, when the Ninja Bandit hit a house on Ocean Terrace and another on Louise Lane, netting $127,000 in jewelry and cash.

The Ninja's burglary spree has prompted Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly to urge Staten Islanders to lock their doors and windows and to activate their alarm systems.

More

May I remind all readers that nunchucks are in fact illegal in NYC. Ninjas don't care.

It's like the bumper stick says:

When nunchucks are illegal, only ninja bandits will have nunchucks.

When we were shopping for a new house, my wife didn't understand why I insisted we avoid any place with a skylight. You may think you are safe, but a lot of times ninjas will remove their climbing foot claws before they drop down into your house or hut . . . and you won't even hear them.

A Day Late, A Shuriken Short

Apparently it's not just Viking Festivals and Primitive Skills events that I hear about days after the event, but also opportunities to dress-up like Storm Shadow and harass my co-workers with origami throwing stars.

Day of the Ninja was last Tuesday, December 5th.

Here's some info from Wikipedia:

In 2003, the creators of Ninja Burger declared that December 5 would be celebrated as Day of the Ninja. On this day, people are encouraged to dress as ninja, engage in ninja-related activities, and spread information on ninja online. December 5 was originally chosen because December 5, 2003 marked the release of Tom Cruise's film The Last Samurai (which featured a scene where samurai battled ninja).

I guess on the positive side, by coincidence - or ninja mind control - we did eat at a sushi restaurant that day for lunch . . .

And what ninja post would be complete without a throwing star link.

Those Darn Ninjas

Well, folks - those darn ninjas are at it again . . .

‘Ninjas’ Rob Pennsylvania Gas Station

A Pennsylvania robbery turned into a bad kung fu movie last weekend when two women in ninja attire robbed a gas station of lottery tickets, cigarettes and cash, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reported.

The two women walked into the Sunoco station early Saturday armed with a samurai sword and a dagger, respectively, the paper reported. They allegedly tied up a female clerk, grabbed the loot and fled. The robbery was captured on security video.

The swarthy 'ninjas' were dressed all in black except for white gloves. Police have made no arrests in the case. More.

Ninjas are well-known for their love of cigarettes and passion for the lottery. There was no mention of those cool shoes with the spikes on them that enable you to walk up walls, but at least one of them was carrying a samurai sword.

We can assume the unlucky samuari was probably the first victim as any ninja worth his salt would not carry such an obtrusive weapon.

Be on the lookout in Pittsburg prefecture for these nefarious villians.

Ninja Attacks on the Rise?

I was doing my normal AM browse of the news and noticed this little sidebar on one of the articles:

'Ninjas' Rob Tourist, Clerk At Hotel

Authorities in Central Florida are searching for two men in full ninja costumes who robbed a night clerk and a tourist this week.

Investigators said the men, who were in black ninja outfits, crept into a Hampton Inn in Davenport, Fla., located just south of Osceola County and surprised the victims in the lobby.

The victims were forced to the ground and robbed, police said.

During the incident, the clerk was shot in the leg but was expected to survive the injury. It was not determined who fired the shot.

The ninja-dressed men then vanished. More.

That's the problem with ninjas - they commit their nefarious acts and then vanish. The article made no specific mention of a smoke bomb or trap door, but we can well assume that one or both was used in this assault.

The shot that hit the clerk may have come from a stray bullet from a Ninja Eradication Team (NET) or may have been a throwing star injury that was misinterpreted by an eager police reporter.

Using our knowledge of internet search engines and our big stack of Ashida Kim books, we've come up with a visual profile on one of the potential suspects:


Never attempt to capture a potential ninja yourself. They are very dangerous and tricky.

For your own safety, contact your local law enforcement or NET specialist.