Bookstore Haul: Volume 6: Overdue Library Books

broderic on July 30, 2016

I forgot that I am doing this series. Whelp, it isn’t the first time I don’t post anything until later. Just look at how long it takes me to write up a movie post…

Now why did I get another book? I haven’t even gotten through the myriad of ones purchased already for this series. All books are languishing on the nightstand not being read. Do I really need another one?

The book I had gotten was William Finnegan’s Barbarian Days, autobiography of a journalist/surfer. I’ve read some of the book before. I may even have already a copy! Who knows?

Also bought was Monocle magazine’s annual city ranking issue. Now that makes me want to go visit Japan…

Slaying at the Center

broderic on July 19, 2016

Holy! Let me tell you the godliness going on here. First, the song is Keyakizaki46 breakout first single, “Silent Majority.” Everyone and their oji-san loves it. Second, it looks like the Kami-7 of AKB48 plus a few of their senbatsu sousekyou members. Third, Nogizak46 and their most popular members. Fourth, Keyaki-chan represented by their most popular members as well. And finally, Ikoma Rina from Nogizaka46 killing as center.

Now, this makes me believe that anyone can slay at the center of this song.

Ice on This Hot July Day

broderic on July 15, 2016

Ice! I, too, have a story about ice and Germany similar to the author of this New Yorker article. America is the land of the Free and the land of free ice…

The hotel we were staying had a bar. They all do. Hotels. Bars. The ‘we’ at the moment is co-workers as this was a business trip to a supplier in Germany.

Anyway, in the evening of this one night we had convened at the bar for a night cap. It was one of our last days there so I just wanted a Coke. I was kind of done with drinking beer so I ordered a Coke.

The bartender places a skinny, tall glass of Coke in front of me with one cube of ice in it. Just one cube!

I asked for more ice. They gave me another two cubes!

Germans don’t believe in ice. Europeans don’t in general. In America, we have the free ice.

When we were on vacation in Los Angeles early this month, I lamented the face that there was no ice machine on our floor. That was until I found out it was located around the corner. There is one in every floor.

USA! USA! USA!

ICE! ICE! ICE!

Bookstore Haul: Volume 5 – The Gamening

broderic on July 10, 2016

Avoided buying a book tonight. I wanted to, but Lorde knows I have too many sitting on my nightstand waiting to be read. I just like buying books (and things) and not reading them at all. I kind of suck that way.

Anyhow, in their last 2 46 Hour Marathon TV special, the members of Nogizaka46 played several games of Ultimate Werewolf. And because I just watched an English sub of one of these games, I ended up getting the box.

Now, after reading the instructions, the game in the box is totally different than that which Nogis played.

But who am I gonna play this with?

A long time ago, I bought another game at B&N. It was a party card game. I have yet to play it with anyone.

Finding Dory

broderic on July 9, 2016

Finding Dory. Another sequel from Pixar. Sadly, that is what they’ve been doing a lot lately. Maybe their magic is ending.

I caught this in a theatre out in Newport Beach, CA. The theatre had reclining leather couches. I fell asleep for a few minutes nodding off unsuccessfully for the previous five before my cousin woke me up with a hard nudge. I don’t think I was snoring, but I was really sleepy.

Finding Dory isn’t a boring movie per se, but it is more of the same. More of the same is boring.

3 of 5 stars.

Independence Day: Resurgence

broderic on July 9, 2016

Independence Day: Resurgence is no ID4. It is, 20 years later, ID4’s sequel. It has many of the same characters from the first one. It features Earth against alien invaders. It destroys the White House, the Capitol, Paris, London, and the East Coast all over again. It isn’t any good.

The first one was a summer smash. This one is a dud. We’ve seen the Earth destroyed countless times since ID4 that it is no longer special. Ho-hum. This one is pure popcorn. Nothing special. I almost forgot that I saw it but since a co-worker had seen it on the opening weekend. There was something to talk about.

At least Jeff Goldblum is still alive.

2 of 5 stars.

The Conjuring 2

broderic on June 26, 2016

I am writing this review as the sun has set, evening comes around, and night falls. I am not scared. I am not scared. I am **gulp** not scared.

The Conjuring 2 is further adventures of the Warrens. They are investigating the Enfield Poltergeist. They had just finished up their investigation into the Amityville Horror house. During that investigation, Lorraine has a vision of Marilyn Manson as a demon nun. He’ll haunt her dreams and that of her husbands. Is it a warning from the demon world? Or does it connect to the Enfield Poltergeist. Yes. Yes.

That being said, I was could not sleep with the lights out for a couple days after seeing this movie. It’s because of the Manson nun. There was a really frightening scene in the film As I said, the husband had also seen the nun in his dreams so he paints her. Then they hang up the painting in their office. It comes to life and it scares the crap out of me. Know why do I have to go and write about her as the night gets darker?!

It wasn’t as good as the first. And it’s starting to feel a little bit like Wan’s Insidious films. But it scared me and that was what I was looking for.

3 fo 5 stars.