Duel

Well I have just started watching this show but like it so far. I like game shows but most of the new ones that have come out I couldn't stand because the host and guesｔ were over the top.At first I thought the system was pretty complicated but I got it after a few minutes. Well I'm definitely going to watch tonight.

My Small honor to 2 men

Yesterday Alex Trebek the host of Jeopardy since 1984 had a minor stroke. Today one of my favorite authors,Terry Pratchett announced that he has been diagnosed with early Alzheimer's. I just want to do a small post to mention 2 men who helped entertain me and make me think.

Interesting Quotes of the Week

12/3? Joy Beyhar on the View to a presidential candidate:"But you're are not going to win and know it so..."

12/7 (from several News sources)"A man scammed friends and relatives claiming his wife worked for the CIA and if they payed him could have satellies scam their bodies for sickness and for more money have CIA agents comin to their house while they slept and remove the problem"

Family

Just want to say even the crazy family members who cheat at cards are cool to spend time with.I hope they all know when they get older I'm not going to let them cheat though

Dophamine

Just because it's an awesome song: M-flo.Emyli,and Diggy Mo's...



I am a pretty big M-flo fan by the way.

Another Book turned into a movie

Just found out today there is a movie planned for release from one of my favorite book series,Dragonlance Chronicles. The books were written by first Laura and Tracy Hickman then by Tracy and Margaret Weis. Now that I think of it I don't remember reading any written with Laura.

Here is the site for the movie: www.dragonlance-movie.com

I hope the movie does well. A course as always I also hope the movie's story does the books justice.

Interesting thing I found out today. I read the newest book for Oprah's Book Club,Pillars of the Earth about 2 years ago. A friend,Jim told me about it and gave me his copy. Just an interesting fact.

Writer's Strike

From the day the news showed Jimmy Kimmel giving food out to the strikers all I've wanted was to join them ask 'when's lunch?' and when it comes grab all I could and run off. Obviously since there have been no news reports of me it's gone off with out anyone noticing. NO I haven't done it but I keep thinking of doing it. Especially Veteran's day when they had their kids. I thought "a day they have kids is sure to be a big lunch day".

From the News coverage of the strike I would think the news is taking the striker's side however most of the times they show them they make me against the writers. Mostly it's the amount of times they show it. This is a problem I've always had with the news they get stuck on one story and keep going to it. Some of the people they talk to are just annoying too. The only non-annoying one I can think of was Jimmy Kimmel and he was avoiding the cameras at the time (and he had food). It also reminded me of how many shows on now that I did not like. When you have to keep naming 3 or 4 shows that you would miss if the writers were gone then that shows there just aren't that many good shows. I do hope the strike gets resolved even if it just so it won't be on the news anymore.

Shameful

Did you know the exact same thing happened to me. I walked.

Dolls and About Love

Today I saw a really good movie "Dolls" (ドールス). The theme of the movie was eternal love. It reminds me of another movie I liked a lot, "About Love". I was surprised I liked both since they both were romantic stories. They both had 3 different stories that intertwined but didn't effect each other. An interesting thing I found while watching Dolls was that even with them being similar to each other they were also very different.

NaNoWriMonth

NaNoWriMonth

This morning I started my novel for nanowrite. NaNoWriMo stands for National Novel writing Month. I stayed up all night to start at 12 however around 1am realized I was sleepy so couldn't think straight. I've done it once before a couple years ago but didn't finish in time. I then forgot until someone mentioned it this year so I was able to sign up in October. The idea is to write a 175-page about 50,000-word novel by midnight, November 30. I now have over 2 pages done and hope to get to 4 by tonight,
oh if anyone is interested the site is: www.nanowrimo.org/

Golden Compass

I just found the website for the movie "The Golden Compass". it was based on a book I really like so I hope they do the movie well.

Dubbing in Commercials

I happen to watch a few shows in languages other than english so I also happen to see a few commercials in other languages. I've noticed that a few commercials gearing toward asain groups they will use the same commercial and use a different voice over it and replace a few of the words. As an economical type of guy I don't see a problem with this except the few where you can tell that the voice don't match the person. The worst I've seen lately has been an AT&T which I have seen in 4 languages.English,Korean,Japanese and a Chinese. It was done in English and the Korean doesn't look too bad, at first I thought they had actually re-taped it for Korean with the same lady but the Japanese and Chinese versions are pretty obvious. What I don't get is if you think you have enough of a market to dub a commercial to a group you don't want to just re-tape and find a person to say it in that language?I guess to just show the possible consumer that you cared.

Lucky Charms and Columbus Day

So it's Columbus day. I don't personally celebrate Columbus day. It's not because there were people on America before the Spanish came although that does play a part in it. It's not because the Africans were the first to cross the Atlantic Ocean to America although that also plays a part in it. It's mostly because he used the name of god in his actions when all he was doing was plundering people and resources. I know a lot of people have done this in history like with the Crusades and even Hitler however it will never become right or acceptable in my eyes. However it's always nice to get a day off right!

I must applaud Lucky Charms cereal. No they are not my favorite however I recently got a box(it was on sale) and it tasted how I remember it. I've noticed as I've gotten older that many foods don't taste how I remember it from early childhood. surprisingly most of these foods are pre-packed preserved foods. They have changed while I was growing! I know some things are just me getting older and developing my taste buds as they change but some stuff has certainly changed too.Trix and Fruit Loops added sugar or sweetener. In fact the last time I had Trix it was too sweet to enjoy. But with the Lucky Charms the grain pieces and marshmallows tasted just like I thought they would. I can usually over eat with cereal anyway but I had even more than I usually do today just from that connection with my younger years.

Birthdays

2 birthdays in 2 days now I feel beat. By the way Happy Birthday Megan! But I did have fun at both and think the birthday persons had fun too. I was actually not going to go to either at first. The family decided the day of that we would go to see my cousin and I was going to stay home. For the second birthday, it was the same day as a festival I had planned to go to so I wasn't sure if I would at first. All in all I'm glad I went to both.

Sightings

I also spotted myself on a few sites again. Here at Elittetokyo: http://elittletokyo.com/gallery/judochop07?page=1 That was also my first time meeting the guy who does Elittlel. I'm across the street in the picture in front of 2nd Street.

Also in Oreskaband's staff Terry Note blog. I am behind the person on the carousal who so looks like they are going to fall. : http://playlog.jp/o-s-k/blog/2007-09-25

Disappointment in Japan's Prime Min.. no America

So last night I found that Abe the Prim Minister of Japan announced he would step down. Well despite the scandals his party has had this year the most disappointing thing to me were the many headlines in America reading "Sayonnara Abe". Now I know not everyone is learning Japanese but is this really the only Japanese phrase all the newspapers know? And don't they look at competitor's sites & papers and say "this phrase is growing a bit old already,isn't it?" This isn't the first time I've noticed these repeating headlines but it's starting to become an irritant. So I must ask: Please news writers reconsider your headline. Actually when I think of it more.Don't change.That would take away something I could laugh at. Yeah there are already many things I laugh at but why take one away?

Outlaw Masters

Another long late night for me. Went to the "JAPANESE OUTLAW MASTERS" at the Egyptian Theater. They have been doing a double feature since Thursday of Japanese films. Tonight/Last night was "Delinquent Sociopaths Double Feature". Both were pretty interesting with strange endings. I actually made a mistake and got the night mixed up with Thursday the Samurai double feature at first but that was fine since I still had fun.

Judo Chop

Went to Judo Chop vol.7 tonight. Man it's late.Tonight/today was my second time going to a Judo Chop. It was more eventful than the first for me. Met and re-met quite a few people. I also had a few slightly strange experiences like being sorta kidnapped. That reminds me I always thought they should change that word it sounds like only a child would be kidnapped. Oh well I'm tired and can't think.

Whack Facts?!

One of those inevitable things in life just happen. I was referenced to this site again: http://chucknorrisfacts.com/. Those facts are so wrong and messed up they're just hilarious. The first time I happened upon this site I keep going back for 3 days to read more in a state of disbelief.

Some of my favorites are:
1.Noah was the only man notified before Chuck Norris relieved himself in the Atlantic Ocean.
2.There is no theory of evolution. Just a list of animals Chuck Norris allows to live.
3.Outer Space exists because it's scared to live on the same planet as Chuck Norris
4.Chuck Norris once roundhouse kicked the side of a Mcdonalds turning it into a Wendy's
5.Chuck Norris is the reason Waldo is hiding
3.Chuck Norris doesn't wear a watch. He decides what time it is
5.In ancient China there is a legend that one day a child will be born from a dragon, grow to be a man, and vanquish evil from the land. That man is not Chuck Norris, because Chuck Norris killed that man
6.Chuck Norris is currently suing myspace for taking the name of what he calls everything around you

Elittlet ,Veoh and Youtube

A picture of me on Elittletokyo: http://elittletokyo.com/gallery/bondance?page=3. It's form another obon festival. But in case the pictures get moved here is another link to the main gallery: http://www.elittletokyo.com/En/gallery.htm

Not the best but around 6 minutes into this video look across the street.: http://www.veoh.com/videos/v10649008WfNKYwc

I'm across the street again in this one. I come up on screen at about 5mins into the clip: http://youtube.com/watch?v=OpBlta9AMjM .

最もじゃない　でもこのビデオに６分。私は通りのさら遠く側に見ます。：　http://www.veoh.com/videos/v10649008WfNKYwc　
別ビデオ（５分）：http://youtube.com/watch?v=OpBlta9AMjM　。　こちらがもう一度通りのさら遠いです。

First sighting on a website and OreskaBand

The Oreskaband is pretty cool. I wish I got to go to one of their concerts here in the US. Will probably have to make due with a CD though. I'm a bit surprised I like their music. I've never been interested in ska before but I heard their music once and had to hear more. I guess it's like most of the music I listen to.Kind of like Random Ninjas and Rusika last year where I wasn't interested in rock music until I heard them. Actually except for the theme song for the Spiderman movie,"Hero". That came first.

Here is a link to a site I'm on.From a blog for the Oreskaband about their pizzaparty with Street-team fans.: http://playlog.jp/terrynote/blog/

For the post I'm in: http://playlog.jp/terrynote/blog/2007-08-28

オレスカバンド

オレスカバンドはかなりかっこいいです。
今スカ音楽に興味がある。

オレスカバンドは　私にRandom NinjasとRusikaを思い出す。　前RandomNinjasロック音楽に興味がありません。　あ　実は少数ロックの歌を好きでした　でもおれの名前がわかりません。

おれスカバンドのパーテイーに行った。このウェブサイトは写真があります：http://playlog.jp/terrynote/blog/ 。

My Worst AnonymousAfro Sighting yet

This is from the ending ceremonies at this year's Nisei Week. I'm only in it for a few seconds and it almost looks like the photographer has an afro because you can just see the top of my head and hair. By the way Zendeko really do rock,one of my favorite taiko teams. Yes even thought it seems a bit silly since I think the first time I heard them or taiko drums was last year I do have favorites grpups. Also an interesting fact about Zendeko,one of the Nisei Week princesses is a member of Zendeko. So here is the youtube link: Zendeko ,you'll see me or my hair around 1 minute in.

Another possible sighting was on the "Buddhist Way of Life". According to a friend last Suday they did a segment on O-bons. They showed O-bon festivals at California temples like Higashi, Nishi, Venice, WLA, NW, etc. (yeah I went to all of those). So he said he thought he may have spotted me on one of their clips. I wish I taped it.

Nisei Week is over/ 二世ウィ－ク終わり!

Nisei Week is over! Yes that means no more odori dancing for me. I seemed to have just found it and now it's gone. At least I joined in the ending ceremonies. However that's not where the bad news ends. That also means the nebuta is gone. It will no longer be in front of the JACCC anymore! I think it's time to steal the nebuta. It told me it wants me to take it home and put it on my roof. Actually I'm not the only one who had this idea, I heard one person say it would fit in their parking lot! Seriously, I wonder what is going to happen to it. Aomori you'll see me (at some time,who knows when)!

Karaoke・カラオケ

Karaoke

I've just gone to a karaoke place for the second time. When I say the second time I mean second time going there and second time doing karaoke in my life. I never really thought of it before but karaoke is pretty fun! When I first went,mostly to waste some time I was surprised the place got any business. I heard karaoke parlors were popular in S.Korea and Japan but couldn't see a place staying in business here in the US.Being the guy I am I looked up karaoke on wiki . I found out the word came from the Japanese word kara-empty and orchestra combined.

Also I decide I'll make 2 copies of post to practice the languages I'm interested in so more Spanish & 日本語 to come!

カラオケ

私はカラオケ場所に行きました。第二です。

Nisei Week and Yet another Sighting!

Well this year's Nisei Week「二世ウィーク」 seems to have a lot more people than last year's. Unluckily as much as I wish they were there for me I know what brought many of them. The Nebuta float from Aomori「青森」! I myself was really excited to see it. I first got to see it in person on Saturday. It was behind the Little Tokyo Shopping Center and they were still setting part of it up. It was taken apart to transport it here. Later that day they had a talk with the creator about why he chose a samurai,who he did,Takeda Shingen and other questions.

Sunday,the day of the parade I experienced another sighting incident. I was buying Nisei week t-shirts and raffle tickets and another person buying them recognized me from 2 obons. I really stand out at these O-bons? I thought there were loads of people who looked just like me at the o-bons.

Cool thing, I saw a few people I know Saturday and Sunday. Interesting fact, I met 2 of them at O-bons.

Sayings and Uses!

You know when you think of it most sayings don't make sense. At least not for what they are referencing. Most made since when first used but as it changed and got used for more things lost it's sensibility. The most recent I noticed was "When the cards are down". It makes sense when talking about a card game where you may thing you've won until another player shows his hand is larger or closer to the selected number or whatever. However just today I heard where it hardly means anything. I think I will end up writing about more of these sayings later

Sightings

I have found out that I happen to be on a few videos that are online. One I found while I was searching for the name of a Group. I was searching to remember the name of a group I saw at the Cherry Blosm festival and found this one http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CFurD2HqwT4 . then recently I was told at an Obon by a fellow dancer how I was on more from another obon. Just showing again how noticeable an afro is! Those were here: HigashiHongaji ,Bon Dance @ OBON CARNIVAL of HIGASHI HONGANJI 2007.7.28 , HigashiHonganjiobon . I would also like to do a disclaimer now that No one has heard of a Beachboys' song becoming an obon odori dance before so everyone was off on that one not just me.
Another: Hongashi

There is a Problem

I have noticed a problem with my everyday life. Simply it's hard being anonymous when you have a noticeable haircut. Surprisingly this never occurred to me before. For some reason I seemed to think I could use it sometimes and not others. However recently I've had 2 times when someone saw me at an event yet I didn't notice or recognize them. Interestingly both were at Obons. Both times I found out later that they saw and recognized me while I probably saw them but had no idea.

At the moment I have no idea what to do.

Last O-bon
.

I advise everyone to go to O-bons. I have been going to several local ones so far 4&1/2. I thought that yesterday's would be the last but it seems I may have to go to another. I seem to have been talked into going to the Gardena temple's next week. I heard that Gardena's has the largest group of attendance and of odori dancers than the others in LA.

I just heard of Obons in June yet I think I'll miss them after this last one. I admit it I may be addicted to o-bons. It seems almost wrong and unnatural to not go each week to another one. I will have to go to as many as I can next year. Now I know what to look for at each and their specialty foods. At least there is Nisei Week 「二世週間」coming up with it's end of the event dance.

Something I don't Get

I really don't get drinking. Many seem to want or need to drink to have fun. First I don't see the fun in it but to actually plan to drink to have fun makes no since. If you are going to a party or event that isn't fun itself? At a party isn't it more fun to dance and talk to others? When you are going out to eat isn't it more fun to taste new things, find places to visit again and interact with others? I know there is no reason to ask these questions but I was just thinking of this(and lost my journal again!)

Maybe this all comes from me wanting to be as smart as I can be at every moment. I know I never wanted to be drunk since that would me my brain functions would be inhibited. So I admit there are other reasons than not finding it fun that I don't drink. However I still don't see the reason.

Dancing Prisoners

Due to blog searching I've heard of prisoners doing organized dancing in the Philippines. I have found this entertaining,interesting and a bit scary. I'm not sure if just at that prison but it seems this is a mandatory activity. Is this idea just wrong or a great idea.

The youtube user who posted these videos is here

Something else I had but didn't know where to put.

何かが所を分からません。

「いま会いにゆきます」

いまあいにゆきます「今会いに行きます」

Hello all I just found this picture. So I wanted to share one of my favorite shows, I'm coming to meet you now 「今あいにゆきます」 This show was based on a book. There was also a movie made (using the same kid) but I haven't watched that yet. There is also a American remake being or planning to be made of the movie starting one of my favorite actors, Jennifer Gardner!

personality quizes

I visited theotaku.com the other day and did a few of their personality quizzes, since I couldn't think of anywhere else to post them I'm doing it here:

Guru has spoken. You share this result with 38% of respondents.


theOtaku.com: Which Guardian Ghost Are You?

Guru has spoken. You share this result with 27% of respondents.


theOtaku.com: What Is Your Ideal Sword?

Guru has spoken. You share this result with 51% of respondents.


theOtaku.com: What's Your Bleach Fun-ness Level?
Guru has spoken. You share this result with 18% of respondents.


theOtaku.com: What Flame of Recca Character Are You?

I'm sure many have heard about the dumpling maker who make dumplings made mostly of soften cardboard. Despite the people who ate them I think the real sad thing is there are other victims, other store owners. Now some people who visit China are going to think twice before eating. So small Mom&Pop stores who use quality ingredients will suffer due to one person's low morals.

So today's Friday the 13th. Yeah that's all I have to say.

Well Beckham joined the Galaxy today. I get why he joined,more money when he's not even in his prime but I don't think him joining is really going to cause more poeple to care about soccer/football. Hopefully he does though and the Galaxy team gets their needed fan increase.
Has anyone seen the clip where the mayor got booed at the press conference/showing! I always thought people valued morals in others than they chose to admit.

Went to an Obon Carnival 「お盆　カニルー」the other day. Although the oban services are based on Buddhism the festivals were lots of fun for everyone. I suggest everyone try visiting an obon festival this season!

7/7/7 and an unlucky earth?

Happy 7-7-7 seems today should be someone's lucky day!

Recently there have been concerts to support environmental awareness but being the type of guy I am I must ask how much pollution does these grand concerts produce? Also are the majority really going to hear about the environment or their favorite bands?Just something to think about.

皆さま　(everyone) have a happy 4th.

Gundam 00 and Death of a Hero

I've heard about the new gundam series premiering in October. For fellow Gundam and anime lovers that's pretty exciting. It's called Mobile Suit Gundam00 or 機動戦士ガンダム00. Which is not a very really original name compared to the other series. You can get read about the plot on wikipedia at: http://en.wikipedia.org/ .

Also for those who enjoy comic books there is a new comic coming out from about the funeral of Capitan America. For those not following the "Civil War" Marvel series. Captian America died by an assassin while he was being taken to court for building a resistance movement to the Superhero registration bill.

Procrastination quote

Here is an interesting quote I found today: "Procrastination is a sign of well-organized. By procrastinating I always know what I have planned for tomorrow"

As a procrastinator I must say Exactly! That's the reason I always let things go. If you try to get everything done now you will only find more things to do. Why not relax a bit and take things easy? Really though there is no reason to procrastinate since the act of procrastination is to purposely put off something, which only results in less productivity.

Blogs

I wonder why do people make blogs. Why do people want others all over the world to know what is happening or they are thinking about in their lives? Some have interesting times like a guy's blog I happened across from when he was an exchange student in Japan.
Recently I've read about a few Chinese blogs. I found out that China even has an annual award for English language Chinese blogs. I know that some marketing companies have made fake blogs to advertise for their client.

As for me. I just blog because I keep losing my journal.

This is the first day a blood transfusion was documented from 1667 with the blood of a sheep going into a 15 year old boy who bled from fever.

Now as for holidays: This the Republic of Malawi 's Freedom Day,
the final day of Vestalia,
The commemoration of Willams Adams who shipwrecked in Japan and the book Shogun by Clavell was loosely based on.
Flag Day in Denmark.
And Elder Abuse Awareness day.

Today is the seventh day of the Vestalia which rakes place from June 7th to 15th. Vestalia was a holiday celebrated in ancient Rome. I find it interesting because it's for the god Vesta, who was the god of the hearth. Not only did homes have a hearth where they honored donating food to her before and after every meal her but there was also a city hearth which wasn't allowed to go out. Also when making a new city they took coals from the main city were taken to the new city's hearth. Yet despite all this evidence of her being an important god she is one
mysterious ones without any stories about her.

Also some interesting news in China. A new law allows parents to name their children with either or both of their family names instead of former laws restricting it to one name. The reason was there are so many people there are confusions with names.

Happy World "No Tobacco Day". No Tobacco Day was created by the World Health Organization in 1987.

Also I think I'll share a little history, did you know on this day: Arthur Miller, the play-writer was found guilty of contempt of court in 1957 for not naming people who were communist.

Also since I will not write tomorrow Happy Doughnut Day,International Children's day, and Madaraka Day. Children's Day is from the World Conference for the Wellbeing of Children in Switzerland however I don't know why it's celebrated June 1st. Madaraka Day celebrates the day Kenya attained self rule after decades of fighting.

Oh happy Kodomo no hi Children's Day. It's a little late since it was on the 5th. Might go to a celebration for it but might not.

じゃ/Ja/later

Happy Showa day everyone! and welcome to the start of Golden Week! If you are wondering, these are 日本　Japanese holidays.

My Return

Well it's been a while. Had computer problems then password problems but I'm back!

来ます

どうも、こんにちは。
しゃぶたです！