[BuckarooBanzai]

Somebody recently asked me why I choose BuckarooBanzai as a pseudonym. Well, there IS a meaning behind it and it goes a bit deeper than Peter Weller and the Black Lectroids.

Bonsai – rough translation “small container gardening” or “tray gardening.” Bonsai is the art of miniaturizing a plant/tree through root binding, pruning and carefully controlled hydration. To most practitioners, the art of Bonsai is an expression of Zen Buddhism. Zen Buddhists, after all, were the first to perfect the art of Bonsai and introduce it to the world.

Banzai – rough translation “ten thousand years.” First, that is a VERY rough translation. Banzai, in Japanese, has very significant cultural implications that are simply not carried or implied by this translation. It should also be stated that in Kanji (the Chinese pictographic words that compose part of Japanese logographic writing), the character for “ten thousand” (the second character of the “word” Banzai) can also be used to express infinity. Infinity, in Kanji, means a LOT more than does our word “infinity.” Infinity, in Kanji, is a spiritual expression, not a mathematical one. Banzai, in Kanji, directly connotes honor and/or an honorable leader.

Buckaroo – Another word for a Vaquero or a “working cowboy.” Rough translation: “a hired hand who works on horseback.”

I am WAY too hot headed to consider myself Zen; Bonsai, as a personal moniker, would be dishonest and (therefore) unacceptable.

So, though I strongly considered using the name “BuckarooBonsai” (lots of fun double entendre there) I choose instead “BuckarooBanzai” as my Mycotopia pseudonym.

I choose it partially because I freakin’ LOVE that movie (The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension). I can't explain why, but that movie is, to me, an encapsulation of the 80's. The time during which I came of age.

But I choose BuckarooBanzai MOSTLY because I’m a nut for linguistics and the derivation roots of words.

To me, that word “BuckarooBanzai” (and I left the space out very intentionally, it is INTENDED to be read as one word), connotes a very specific meaning:

“The honorable cowboy who lives forever.”

Or, more specifically, applying my own connotations and derivations, BuckarooBanzi is a specific reference to one human archetype: THE GUNSLINGER.

Naming myself Roland Deschain just seemed a little too easy/obvious.

And that is why I’m BuckarooBanzai.

If any of you feel like sharing the reasons behind choosing your pseudonym, I would LOVE to hear them!!!

And by the way, "because it sounded cool" is just as valid a reason for choosing your pseudonym as mine was.

Different strokes, you know?