“This is bogus! Completely bogus!” “What exactly is so bogus about it?” “I don’t know, but there’s something bogus in there somewhere.”

broderic on September 17, 2016

I haven’t posted too much in the last few years. Since it’s NewsRadio Quote Month, I think that I should post more. There are only so many more of these coming. Why not get as many NewsRadio quotes in?

I was thinking about my soap situation. I was running out of soap for the shower. I was down to using a bar I had swiped from a hotel. This means I had to go to the store and get some.

Well, actually, I went in looking for an air mattress so that I could sleep on the floor under the only ceiling fan in my condo, but I also went in for soap.

With the mattress in hand and some sundry snacks as well, I stopped by the toiletries for a package of soap.

Grabbed the usual.

Then saw that they are really starting to target men, because there was a smart looking package of three bars of soap. It was a clear plastic wrap, and the bars were beefy, rectangle slabs of soap. You know that ubiquitous ‘hand made’ soap store you see at the mall. It was like they were from there. But for men, because I can’t imagine for the life of my some guy buying a bar of soap from that ‘hand made’ soap store in the mall. Although, I almost did once, but that is another story.

Anyhow, I grabbed this package as well just to have an option.

I opened it up the other day and found out it was almost too big for the soap ledge.

It is a beefy, manly bar of soap…

Not sure why I wrote this. Maybe I need an editor.

“If you could be any kind of tree in the whole wide world, what…” “I stole a car!… I mean, a sycamore tree”.

broderic on September 11, 2016

Kubo and the Two Strings

I am taking too much time to shovel out my reviews of movies. I saw Kubo and the Two Strings ahile ago. This review is way late. It should’ve come out immediately after the film to make you want to go and see it. It is out of theaters now, and you missed it.

Kubo and the Two Strings comes from the stop motion animation studio, Laika. They have become my favorite studio because stop motion is so analog and they make it look digital. Even in this film, the animation is amazing. It is hard to believe that most of it is puppets.

The story is a tale of Kubo who is fatherless and with a mother who is catatonic during the day. At night she wakes up and regales him with stories of his father using origami as visuals. Kubo also has the origami touch. Along with his shimasen he animates origami tales for the villagers.

It turns out his mother and him are on the run from his grandfather, the King of the Moon, who wants to turn Kubo into another cold, heartless follower and heir to the moon throne. Chased by his scary aunts, Kubo must find the pieces to put his father’s armor together to defeat his family.

The story is said to be the weakest part of the film. I would watch it for the visuals — the origami art, the gigantic skeleton battle, the scary aunts, the water. You would wonder how this is stop motion. The story also appropriates Japanese symbolisms. I wonder if they meant it too. The company did show gratitude to the Japanese organizations and people who they worked with. I didn’t hear too much about the ‘yellow-washing’ in this film.

It is a shame that it wasn’t as big of a hit as possible. I guess because it isn’t CG no one wants to watch.

4 of 5 stars.

“Freedom of speech is one thing, the word penis is another.”

broderic on September 10, 2016

Bookstore Haul: Volume 9 — It’s not about the Nogis.

Japanese Demystified 3rd Edition — I need to accelerate my Japanese learning. I need to at least be slightly conversational. How am I going to talk to my idol oshis? Not too sure. This is the third book I bought. I have flash cards. I have translation programs. I have apps. But I don’t put the time in. I really need to put the time in. That is all. Just do it.

“I realized that there were some things in life that you can’t find in the afterlife.” “Like love?” “No, coffee.”

broderic on September 6, 2016

Link of the Day [9.06.16]

There are now 47 Nogis to love.

Nogizaka46 just announced their newest members this past weekend. They found another 12 girls to be the third generation of Nogizaka46.

I’m happy for them. They get to be one of the next faces of Nogizaka46, my favorite idol group. I will support them from here on out.

I’m sad for them. Idoling is a brutal business. They are starting at the bottom as novices. They must go through training in dance, singing, and idol maneuvers before they can be said to be ready. Then they face their fans who will bring their attitudes and prejudices against them.

It took the second generation almost two full years for them to all achieve full membership. Will third generation make it to full fledge membership in a shorter time? I’m not sure I have 2 years to find out…

Anyhow, I’ll support them as long as they are Nogizaka46 members. Also, even after.

Support them Japanese people. All of them!

http://www.nogizaka46.com/news/2016/09/46-3-3.php

“No, Dave, it isn’t odd, it is reality, and you’d better buckle your seatbelt, because reality SUCKS!”

broderic on September 5, 2016

After Win Tonal

I haven’t talked about the Baltimore Orioles in a while.

I went to last Friday’s game against the hated Yankees. We won. But it felt like too little too late.

I have no confidence in the team making it into the post season. I didn’t reserve post season tickets. They were available to season ticket holders a week ago and will still be there until mid-week. I’m not wanting to buy because it will mean believing in the team. I haven’t believed since the all star break. I would love to but…

So they kept winning through this weekend and won again today. They are making a play for the division as the season wanes. I’m still questioning my decision.

Let’s go Orioles!

“What is your stategy for dealing with the waves of incoming British troops?” “The only strategy I know: a straight-up, street-smart, all-American ass kicking!”

broderic on September 5, 2016

I love the nostalgia of looking back twenty years ago to 1996. That was the year I broke. My favorite and I turned 25 during the proto-NewsRadio Quote Month.

Today’s link takes us to a list of music from that era. I remember, love, and cherish some of these songs. It reminds me of sitting on the couch and watching M2.

Sadly, that was then this is now. It doesn’t come back. At least we have “Peaches” from the Presidents of the United States.

http://www.spin.com/2016/08/96-best-alternative-rock-songs-1996/

“Damn you, Jimmy Hoffa!”

broderic on September 2, 2016

Link of the Day [9.01.16]

Is it?

It is!

NewsRadio Quote of the Day Month has started! It’s been a long time. Like a year. Maybe this time I’ll get into it again, but the quotes are getting to be slim pickings.

Not much to say today. Just a link of the day. Several hours too late to make you click. But just click anyway.

You’re gonna need a translator for this one because I’m sending you over to a Japanese idol’s blog. A member from my favorite group, Nogizaka46. It’s Hina Kawago. She’s writing about taking over center for her kami-oshi, Mai Fukugawa who graduated from the group in June. Kawago-san is one of the least popular members of the group. Fukugawa was one of the most popular of the group. She’s beloved by the members, fans, and idol freaks. Kawago is not. So for her to reach center during a really important show it was awesome.

The first time I had read about her taking over center I teared up. Then reading her blog entry through Google translate I teared up again. I am really glad for her. It seems from the amount of comments the fans did too.

Chou zetsu kawaii, Kawago!

http://blog.nogizaka46.com/hina.kawago/2016/08/034150.php