「人は夢を二度見る」

broderic on April 11, 2023

Kubo Shiori and Yamashita Mizuki. Yamashita Mizuki and Kubo Shiori. One and one and two and two. They are 3rd Generation aces for Nogizaka46, and they’ll forever be linked together in fans’ minds.

In the summer of 2016, Nogizaka46 held auditions for a new, third generation of members. The finale of the audition process was participation on the online streaming site, SHOWROOM, where the candidates spent about an hour just chatting and interacting with live stream viewers. At the time, both were anonymous to fans, but they spotted something in them making both highly popular. They were at the time second and third. Yamashita edging out Kubo.

After they passed, they would find themselves in competition again. This time in Nogizaka’s 3 Principals stage show. Principal is a play upon which the audience gets to choose which members participate in the play. Another audition. Kubo came out with the slight edge voted to participating in the play just one more vote than Yamashita.

They were always squaring against each other. It may have been the basis of Kubo taking a hiatus in 2018 because of this competition. Was it a challenge?

Maybe, but they were quite a combo. They named their pairing, “KuboShita,” and fans love them. Nothing but admiration amongst the pair. Even though Yamashita had earned the Ace moniker, Kubo was close behind. Kubo is the more beloved amongst the members themselves. Either way they are at the forefront of Nogizaka.

Anyhow, the single has been out for a couple of weeks. Please give it a listen. I love this song. I love this pair. I just love Nogizaka46.

Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Amongst Thieves

broderic on April 7, 2023

Should I start watching movies again? It’s a question I ask myself all the time especially when I am sitting home bored out of my mind. I guess I’ll go check what’s playing at the local cinema on this holiday weekend.

Well lookee here! Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Amongst Thieves!

It’s something.

Because I needed to watch something, I ended up watching this. It’s a mindless caper set in the D&D world. It was a classic caper for a small band of adventurers to steal the macguffin in order to do the thing that advances the plot towards the end. Like a game of D&D, there was plenty of random stuff happening — plans made, plans failed. If you need it to happen, role the dice it happened.

Chris Pine was classic smug Chris Pine. Michelle Rodriguez was classic Letty mode but with an axe. The group also had a wizard and a shape-shifting druid. Fun was had and the adventure was completed.

I too had fun. It isn’t the perfect movie per se, but it satisfies the itch to go to the theatre and gobble a bucket of popcorn for about 2 hours.

3 of 5 stars.

Kubo Leads Samurai Japan

broderic on March 23, 2023

I’d like to think that it was Nogizaka46 and Kubo Shiori who kicked started Team Japan to a WBC win. Like I imagine that we should be getting memes of Kubo striking out Mike Trout. Come on internet. Don’t let me down.

Anyhow, I was rooting for Team Japan because my favorite idols were cheering them on.

Go Stream De la Soul

broderic on March 3, 2023

De la Soul, that most famous of rap groups, is now streaming. Fire up your favorite streaming service and give them a listen.

Me? I’m gonna pop in my disks and listen to them on physical media. You should, too. Go out and buy their CDs or vinyls or whichever way you enjoy analog sounds.

Reminds me of a story…

You see my original CD of 3 Ft. High and Rising was all scratched up. I bought it again sometime in the early 2000. I may buy it again in! Anyhow, go listen.

Fitness Plus Plus

broderic on February 14, 2023

If you’ve been following me on your watch, then you’ll know that I have started working out again this year. Maybe. At least I am trying to be more active this year.

So to help, I signed up for the free month on Apple Fitness+. I guess it’s something to get me moving almost daily.

So far I’ve only stuck with the beginner workouts in the dance and kickboxing categories. I also have done some of the meditation and cooldown episodes, but those are really to slow down and chill out.

I wish there was a place to get better info on some of the workouts. I tried a few out of the beginner’s bracket and found them to be a bit too intense for now. I also wish it had a better save mechanism as you always have to scroll to find the workouts you’d save. At least that’s the behavior on AppleTV.

So come out and join me on my workouts.

3 Is The Magic Number

broderic on February 12, 2023

Darnit. Time moves forward and it robs us of some of our favorite people. RIP Dave AKA Trugoy.

De La Soul had some of the finest rap albums ever and Plug 2 Trugoy was right there with some of the best lyrics. I can not express how much I loved their albums. This one is tough.

We’re all aging. Some of no longer. De La 4 Ever. Plug 2 out.

See ya tweets

broderic on January 22, 2023

I deleted Tweetbot from my iOS devices not just because of the turmoil going on at Twitter, but also because Twitter has broken third party apps. It is an end of an era.

Twitter is my favorite social media. I’m on there most all the time. Usually, when I’m out, it is Tweetbot that I would be using. Now. That is no longer the case.

I’ve never logged in to the web page on my iPhone. I am not going to so far. I guess I am going to be using Twitter a lot less now. Of course, while I sit on my couch, I will be using the website. I guess I need to get off my couch then.

Best Films Of 2022 — a faux list

broderic on January 2, 2023

There is only one movie on this list. I think it was my favorite time in the theaters, but to tell you the truth I didn’t see that many movies this year. It’s a combination of not really wanting to watch what’s being exhibited, not much being released in theaters, and just not wanting to go to the movies anymore.

Funnily enough, as I reviewed the movies I did see, I noticed that I gave out a lot of low ratings many 2 stars and even a few 1 stars. Some readers had complained that I always gave a 3 star rating for good and bad movies. I think I broke that habit considering that I have no compunction to now give out low ratings.

  1. Everything Everywhere All at Once (5 of 5 stars)

That’s the list. That’s it. Was there anything good that had come to your theater?

Movies are never going to be good again are they?